November 09, 2006	Thursday	Shawwal 16, 1427

KARACHI, Nov 8: To rise up to its role of driver of development the private sector needs to focus on the productivity and competitiveness in Pakistan. In case it fails to invest in innovation it could face problems with trading partners in developed world loosing business to competitors.

Arthur Bayhan, CEO Competitive Support Fund (CSF), expressed these views while talking to Dawn on Monday. He saw a good scope for Pakistan’s private sector in the globalised market place provided it sheds the mindset of past protective era and gets ready to put in all that it takes to compete independently without direct help from the government.

He was in Karachi in connection with preparation for Pakistan’s participation in ‘Europasia Business Convention’, an international business meeting between Asia and Europe for promotion of business-to-business commercial and industrial cooperation. The event is scheduled for April 2007.

It will be participated by five European countries - France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Sweden - and six leading Asian nations - China, Pakistan, India, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam.

Initially Pakistan was not included but Mr Bayhan attributed Pakistan’s inclusion in the event to economic diplomacy skills of Omar Ayub Khan, minister of state for finance. “Last month I was in Lyon, France with the minister and he successfully impressed on the organisers of Europasia to include Pakistan in the programme”, Bayhan said.

The conference will focus on three sectors including transport, environment and chemical industry and healthcare. It will host more than 1,000 pre-arranged business meetings and expect more than 200 European and Asian enterprises.