PESHAWAR, June 14: NWFP Governor Khalil-ur-Rehman has said the Frontier province and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) offer the most conducive environment for establishing businesses and industrial units. “The geographic location of the NWFP and Fata is ideal. Things needed for securing a niche in the markets of Central Asia are modern technology and business tactics,” said the governor while addressing a function of the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) here on Monday night.

According to an official handout issued here on Tuesday, the governor said the geographical advantage could be exploited by boosting the manufacturing sector and increasing production to meet market requirements.

The governor stressed the need for maintaining quality at all levels of business interaction.

He also mentioned hydel power generation potential, mineral deposits and tourist spots in the province.

Fata was full of mineral deposits too, he added.

There also existed vast reserves of oil and gas in the area as well, and the government was making all out efforts to exploit this natural wealth for the welfare of the people, he said.

He said billions of rupees were being invested in Fata.

The governor while referring to contacts being made with foreign concerns to exploit these natural resources also urged local entrepreneurs to come forward and make best use of the opportunities.

While underlining the need for applying the latest technology for extracting and processing mineral resources, the governor also mentioned the marble sector and said almost 70 per cent of the materials was lost because of outdated methods of excavation.

In this respect, he said, efforts were under way to induct the latest technology to make the best use of the natural resources.

The governor praised the policies of President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz saying that the country had been put on the right path.

The country’s economy had been a shambles five years ago with the foreign exchange reserves consisting of a few hundred million dollars only, but the reserves stood well over 13 billion dollars today, he said.

He termed the federal budget as ‘welfare oriented’.

Referring to the demands made by Malik Niaz Ahmad, president of the chamber, with particular reference to the establishment of export trade centre in Peshawar and Peshawar dry port in Azakhel, the governor said he had already been in touch with authorities concerned and that he had been anticipating a positive response from them.