25 January 2004	Sunday	02 Zilhaj 1424

ISLAMABAD, Jan 24: A three-member delegation led by Industries and Production Minister Liaquat Jatoi will leave on Sunday for Tehran to participate in an ECO-ministerial meeting being held specifically to promote bilateral , multilateral industrial and investment cooperation among member countries.

According to an official announcement issued on Saturday, the conference is scheduled for January 25-28. The delegation will put various proposals in the conference for consideration, including proposals for upgradation of technology, technical skills and capacity-building in the industrial sectors.

Pakistan will also propose ECO-member states to accord priority to the issuance of business visas to Pakistani industrialists, investors and exporters desirous to promote bilateral industrial, investment and trade cooperation.

The delegation will also focus on increasing market access for Pakistani products abroad.

According to Mr Jatoi, the first ECO ministerial meeting on industry would be an excellent forum for ensuring the political commitment of the member countries for regional cooperation in industrial sector, determining priorities and drawing a roadmap for future actions and collaboration among the member states.

ECO-member states might also cooperate with each other in engineering, petrochemical, food processing, fertilizers and textile sectors, he added.