ISLAMABAD, Dec 31: Investment Minister Waqar Ahmad Khan has asked Italian businessmen to invest in Pakistan taking advantage of business and investment-friendly environment.

Talking to Ambassador of Italy Vincenzo Prati, who called on him here on Wednesday, the minister stressed upon the need to further strengthen the existing economic relations to the benefit the people of the two countries.

He said Italian investment would be welcomed.

The minister briefed the ambassador that the government was attaching high priority to foreign investment and for the purpose a new ministry had been established to remove the bottlenecks and act as a facilitator.

He said that the government was addressing investors concerns and a task force on security as well as new investment policy were underway which would give a boost to investment and the economic activity.

He also asked the ambassador to address the Lahore Chamber of Commerce of Lahore on Jan 3, 2009 which would provide a unique opportunity to further strengthen and increase business relations.

The ambassador while accepting the invitation said that the investors from Italy were keen to invest in leather, garment, agriculture and were coming Pakistan with concrete proposals.

He also said that Italian government was also willing to cooperate with Pakistan businessmen for value addition in their products through transfer of technology in various sectors like leather, textile, marble, agriculture and livestock.