17 February 2004	Tuesday	25 Zilhaj 1424

ISLAMABAD, Feb 16: An eleven-member trade delegation under the auspices of Canada-Pakistan Business Council (CPBC) has expressed keen interest in expanding business activities in the form of joint ventures with Pakistani companies in various sectors.

The Canadian delegation, in a meeting with the chairman, Board of Investment (BoI), Waseem Haqqie on Monday underlined IT and telecom, technology transfer, manufacturing and distribution of CNG kits, food processing, fisheries, software, training, oil drilling, silos, warehousing and house mortgaging as their areas of interest for joint ventures.

The delegation comprised Anwar Merchant, president, CPBC, Sinclair Stevens, former Canadian industries minister, Armughan Ahmad, executive, M/s Enterasys Canada Inc, William Catalano, Naim Malik, Nasir Mahmood of NTGC Clarity, an IT Company, Ms Aida Civeiros, director Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters, Mansoor Naqi, CEO, Spectrum Financial Roger Gate, GM of M/s MPM, Smir Dossal, Director of CPBC.

While from Pakistan side, Talat R Mian, EDG BoI, Dr. A. Mateen, MD PSEB, Ijaz Abbas from Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and other senior officials of BOI participated in the deliberations.

The Chairman BoI gave a detailed presentation on the occasion explaining the liberal investment policy of Pakistan and investment opportunities in various sectors including oil & gas, IT & telecom, power, agriculture, SMEs, infrastructure and Tourism.

He said that all the economic indicators were now moving upward and the steps taken by the government had started showing positive results, adding, the government was well aware of the major concern of investors including protection of their investment and safety. -APP