February 20, 2007	Tuesday	Safar 2, 1428

ISLAMABAD, Feb 19: Almost 600 participants from all over the world, including Pakistani businessmen, will attend a two- day Euromoney Pakistan investment and finance conference on growth and opportunities that opens here on Feb 21.

The Board of Investment, Ministry of Finance and Euromoney Conferences, UK, are jointly organising the conference.

The core objective of the conference is to bring policy-makers, local and foreign investors, financiers and key overseas players together at one platform to highlight attractions and examine the challenges of doing business in Pakistan and to promote the investment climate and the overall perception of Pakistan in the regional and international markets.

There will be six panel discussions on different topics, like macroeconomic picture and growth potential; doing business in Pakistan; Pakistan and capital markets; Pakistan's banking sector infrastructure and construction, manufacturing and services.

The topics of four workshops are growth and investment outlook, the asset management industry -- hyper growth and higher challenges, turning around privatised enterprises and the role of banks in the development of SME sector.

The keynote speaker at the inaugural session will be Shengman Zhang, vice chairman, Global Banking and chief operating officer, Corporate and Investment Banking Asia Pacific, Citigroup.

Dr. Salman Shah, PM’s advisor on finance and revenue, Zahid Hamid, minister for privatisation and investment and Talat Miyan, secretary, Board of Investment, Umar Ahmad Ghuman, minister of state for privatisation; chairman, Board of Investment, and Dr. Shamshad Akhtar, Governor, State Bank of Pakistan, will speak at various sessions.