PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KPCCI) will collaborate to hold industrial road shows abroad to showcase the province’s natural resource potential with investment opportunities.

According to business circles, KPCCI in coordination with the government has planned to hold industrial road shows at Dubai and London during the next five months to promote Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s potential in hydel power generation, marble and granite, tourism, and oil and gas.

“First of the two road shows will be held at Dubai in March for which financial support would be provided by the Economic Revival of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Federally Administered Tribal Areas project funded by the Multi Donor Trust Fund,” KPCCI chief Zahidullah Shinwari told Dawn.

He said that another road show would be held at London in June this year for which, according to him, the provincial government would also pitch in funds.

A series of activities, he added, had been planned for March and June to promote KP’s industrial potential and attract local and foreign investment.

In this respect, the chamber, said its president, had started collecting data concerning KP’s hydel power generation potential and the oil and gas sector for presenting at the Dubai road show.

He said the provincial government’s upcoming e-showcasing project – under which data of all industrial units and products produced in the province would be promoted through a web portal – could be vital in attracting local and foreign investment.

“There is a need for a greater collaboration between the business community and the provincial industries department to achieve the common goals for which an integrated approach will have to be adopted,” said Mr Shinwari.

His argument was supported by Sarwar Mohmand, a Peshawar-based industrialist and a member of the board of directors of the recently set up Board of Investment and Trade.

He said the BOIT had asked the provincial government to focus on one more core area with potential to attract local and foreign investment.

The establishment of a couple of hydel power units in private sector, he added, could turn around the provincial economy, setting the industrial wheel rolling and creating jobs for the skilled workforce.

“We won’t need to look outside for investment if the government facilitates local investors interested in setting up hydel power generation units in the province, which has over 35,000 MW identified hydel power generation potential,” said Mr Mohmand.

Mr Shinwari said that feasibility reports would also be shared with the interested parties at the Dubai show to facilitate potential investors.