ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said that Pakistan’s strategic location makes it a market full of opportunities having the potential to become Asia’s premier trade, energy and transport corridor.
While talking to a delegation led by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Royal Friesland Campina (Netherlands) Roelof A. Joosten at the PM House in Islamabad on Wednesday, the prime minister said that 60 percent of the total population of the country is under the age of 30 with talented labour force from unskilled to highly skilled professionals.
The prime minister informed the delegation that the government has recently extended subsidy on fertilizers to facilitate farmers and has promulgated laws for Special Economic Zones (SEZs) to meet global challenges of competitiveness and also to attract Foreign Direct Investment.
“Our government is extensively working on various infrastructures, energy and communication projects to facilitate trade and investment in diverse sectors,” the prime minister said.
“We are a lucky for having four seasons, abundant land with rich natural resources, extensive irrigation network, favourable climate, year round crop production, trained work force and a vibrant economic outlook’”, he stressed.
The prime minister said that his government has focused on economic reforms to increase investors’ confidence as the country’s various indicators of growing and stable economy are acknowledged by International Organizations, as well.
The CEO Royal Friesland Campina sad that “We invested in Pakistan because Central Asia is very important for our business strategy and Pakistan offered us the opportunity to invest in the region. The reason for us to invest in Pakistan is that we see a big change from loose milk to packed milk.”
“We also see an increase in the dispensable income of middle class which is rapidly increasing while urbanization is also on the rise in the country. We feel that high quality of dairy products are required to meet the growing demand in the country,” he added.
“There is a growing need for high quality dairy products in Pakistan. That is why we are bringing in our technology, capabilities and our experiences to develop these products for Pakistani market by working together with the farmer community of Pakistan,” the CEO added.
Roelof A. Joosten further said that they have a plan to make Pakistan dairy products exporting country in the coming few years.
The CEO Royal Friesland Campina said that Pakistan is becoming an investment destination due to improved security environment, rapidly expanding quality infrastructure and marked reduction in energy shortages. He said that they are planning to bring in an additional $ 100 Million investment to Pakistan in next couple of years.
The Minister for Finance Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Minister for Finance was also present during the meeting while the visiting delegation comprised of Hussain Dawood, Ghias Khan President and CEO of Engro Corporation, Piet Hilarides COO, Hein Schumacher CFO and Hans Laarakker Director Royal Friesland Campina.
