November 28, 2002	Thursday	Ramazan 22, 1423

ISLAMABAD, Nov 27: Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar said on Wednesday he would give top priority to gain increased access for Pakistani products in the international markets.

“The stress will be on American and European markets,” he told APP.

The minister would visit the United States next month to meet the US Secretary of State on Commerce and Trade in this respect.

Humayun Akhtar said there had been some lull on this issue mainly due to mid-term

United States elections, but now he would vigorously pursue this matter.

The minister called for diversifying country’s exports, which currently bank on a few items.

He appreciated the macroeconomic stability the country has achieved during the last three years.

The present government would focus on improving the economic stability to restore the confidence of businessmen and investors, he added.

The Minister said that he would hold meetings with members of chambers of commerce and industry, businessmen, investors and industrialists to discuss matters relating to trade and investment.

He said local and foreign investments were the key to economic activity and he would do everything to attract investment in different fields of the economy.

The Free Trade Agreement with Sri Lanka, he said, was being considered and may soon be finalized.

Humayun Akhtar, to a question said, our businessmen and industrialists would have to prepare themselves to face the challenges in a competitive global environment after lifting of quota restrictions in the year 2005.—APP