PESHAWAR: The provincial government will hold an investment road show in Peshawar by mid of the current month as follow-up of the memorandums of understanding signed at the recently concluded Dubai Expo.

According to a statement, the 9th meeting of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Board of Investment and Trade (KPBoIT) held here with Chief Minister Mahmood Khan in the chair was informed that full participation of foreign investment companies was expected in the road show.

The meeting was informed about the measures taken under the ‘ease of doing business’ (EoDB) policy to provide maximum facilities to foreign investors. It was told that an official business portal, a new website and an investment relations management system were been launched by KPBoIT to provide the required services to investors online.

The meeting was attended by Provincial Minister for Finance Taimur Saleem Jhagra, Additional Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Amjad Ali Khan and Industries Secretary Zulfiqar Ali Shah besides other members of the board and relevant officials. The forum was informed about the progress made on the implementation of the decisions taken in the last meeting of the board.

The meeting was informed that as per instructions of the chief minister, a team of the provincial government participated in the Dubai Expo with full preparations and homework and its outcome was beyond expectations.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has signed 44 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) worth $8 billion with various foreign companies during its participation in the Dubai Expo. The MoUs were signed in various sectors including energy, agriculture, industry, tourism, minerals and information technology.

During Dubai Expo, the provincial government’s team held a successful investment road show that was attended by representatives of more than 250 foreign companies.

Similarly, the government team also organised eight conferences in which up to 100 foreign investors participated. Moreover, the provincial government has also prepared an action plan to implement the MoUs signed with foreign companies at the Dubai Expo.

Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister termed the participation of the provincial government in the Dubai Expo fruitful. He appreciated the performance of the entire team including the officials of KPBoIT in this regard and directed the quarters concerned to take necessary steps to execute at least 50 per cent of the MoUs so that maximum employment opportunities could be created.

He also directed the relevant authorities to provide all the facilities and services required under the EoDB policy of the provincial government under one roof to the foreign companies desiring to invest in the province.

Published in Dawn, March 7th, 2022