ISLAMABAD, Feb 25: The Investment Division and Board of Investment (BoI) here on Monday signed two memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with Small and Medium Enterprise Development Authority (Smeda) and Punjab Agri Marketing Company (Pamco) to promote the agriculture sector.

The signing ceremony was witnessed by caretaker Minister for Privatisation and Investment Shahzada Alam Monnoo and Industries, Production and Special Initiatives Secretary Shahab Khawaja.

The first MoU with Smeda is aimed at enhancing cooperation between the two organisations to facilitate investors in the horticulture sector of the country.

It is intended to promote healthy business activity in the horticulture sector of the country with an aim to enhance its productivity and decrease post harvest losses.

The second MoU was between BoI and Pamco to develop internal expertise and products for horticulture financing so as to encourage farmers to adopt modern and efficient horticulture farming techniques.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Monnoo described the MoUs as welcome steps towards strengthening public-private partnership.

He said that Pakistan was having great potential in agriculture field which needed to be exploited.

He said that the country was facing problem of post-harvest losses which could be minimised by utilising modern techniques adding that this would not only help preserve horticulture products but would also enhance profitability.

He said that the public-private partnership would lead the agriculture sector towards new horizons of progress to uplift economy of the country.

He said that Pakistan was having best kind of citrus and other fruits which has no precedent the world over, however stressed the need for exploiting the potential for the better interests of the country.—APP