NEW YORK: Pakistan today is brimming with the promise of a country fueled by expectations of sustaining high growth rates that would translate into enhanced purchasing power for an expanding middle class, said Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, Jalil Abbas Jilani.

He was addressing a gathering of Pakistani-American business leaders at the 4th US Business Opportunities Conference at Citicorp headquarters in Manhattan on Thursday.

At a networking session for the conference, the first to be held in the United States, business leaders applauded Pakistan’s efforts for restoring economic stability. They opined reforms had improved the attractiveness of the country to investors.

The last three conferences took place in London, Dubai and Islamabad.

About 300 industry representatives, investors, and government leaders from the two countries as well as emerging professionals and entrepreneurs were present at the event.

Pointing to improving economic indicators acknowledged by international rating agencies, Ambassador Jilani said the promise of Pakistan — an economy destined to be among the top 20 in terms of the forecast by Goldman Sachs – has also been recognised at by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

“Most significantly, this promise has been acknowledged and embodied in the 46 billion dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor — underwritten by China being one of the most salient business savvy states,” he said.

Chairman and President of the Export-Import Bank, Fred P Hochberg said he was impressed by Pakistan’s economic turnaround. A number of projects were under consideration for financing purposes, he added.

Mr Hochberg had visited Pakistan in April earlier this year. He said strengthening trade and commercial links was the best way to ease diplomatic and political tensions between the two countries.

He said he was particularly impressed with Pakistani women entrepreneurs and believed that women could help country ahead to achieve its trade goals.

Commerce Minister Khurram Dastgir Khan is leading the Pakistan delegation while the US side is led by Bruce Andrews, Deputy Secretary of Commerce.

The event is being attended by Ambassador Richard Olson, US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan; Larry Sampler, USAID Assistant to the Administrator for Afghanistan and Pakistan; and Ziad Haider, US Special Representative for Commercial and Business Affairs. Vice Chairman of General Electric John Rice will also deliver a keynote speech, a press release said.

Published in Dawn, June 4th, 2016