August 6, 2002	Tuesday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 26,1423

KARACHI, Aug 5: The Managing Director, South Asia Affairs of the US Chamber of Commerce, Dr. Herbert J. Davis, on Monday met the Minister of State and Chairman Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), Tariq Ikram.

The objective of his visit to Pakistan is to know the country’s potential in the energy and textile sectors for US investment.

The minister briefed him on EPB’s objectives, vision, achievements and export strategy. He was also given a detailed presentation on the problems and prospects of Pakistan’s exports to USA, especially of the textile sector.

Besides, being the Executive Director of newly created US-Pak Business Council of the US Chamber, Dr Davis will meet Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz to invite him for first meeting and launch of the council scheduled to be held in early October this year.

Dr Davis said the US Chamber is one of the oldest private sector apex trade bodies which has about three million registered members and has the leverage to lobby for a country and to improve its image as a reliable business partner.

He was enthusiastic about the forthcoming meeting and hoped that the council will prove to be a major breakthrough in the improvement of US-Pakistan trade relations.

Dr Davis proposed that EPB chairman may lead a trade delegation to Washington at the time of the council’s first meeting in October 2002 which may offer a venue to Pakistan for lobbying and image building.

He promised that he will exert his efforts to inform US companies to go to Pakistan and invest in the potential areas.—APP