ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The government has finalized arrangements for holding of the 15th Ministerial Conference of Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) scheduled in Islamabad on Wednesday, October 26.
As many as 200 participants from 10 member countries and multilateral development partners are scheduled to attend the event.
The Managing Director International Monetary Fund (IMF), Christine Laragrde and President Asian Development Bank (ADB), Takehiko Nakao are also scheduled to participate in the event, according to statement of the Finance Ministry.
The Conference will be hosted by the Economic Affairs Division (EAD) in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
Participants from CAREC member countries including Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, China, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Georgia (as an observer) would be participating in the event.
“The conference will play a vital role in the economic development of the CAREC region and begin an era of economic cooperation and integration of the CAREC area,” said Finance Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar according to the statement.
The conference would provide member countries an important opportunity to further collaborate in areas of mutual interest to improve regional cooperation, he added.
Dar said that the high profile visits as well as CAREC conference was the proof of the confidence of the international development partners in the strength of Pakistan’s economy.
He said that the government was committed to ensure that the growth rate is sustainable as well as inclusive and that Pakistan become a destination of choice for international investors.
He directed that the relevant ministries and departments should coordinate closely to ensure success of the planned international events.
The Finance Minister has already reviewed the arrangements for the conference and receiving foreign dignitaries.
In the review meeting, the minister was informed about the arrangements made for the visits of dignitaries that will be participating in the event.
Strategies have also been devised to make the visits and conference productive and meaningful.