ISLAMABAD, Jan 17: The government will encourage corporate sector to seek membership of the World Economic Forum (WEF), which will provide a good opportunity to project and amplify Pakistan's investment agenda at the forum.

Official sources told Dawn on Saturday that currently WEF has 1,000 members including all well-known multinational corporations, world's major stock exchanges and banks.

As compared to 40 Indian corporate members, Pakistan has only two corporate members, PSO and Pathfinder.

President, General Pervez Musharraf along with Commerce Minister, Humayun Akhtar Khan will attend the annual Davos Conference scheduled for January 20-25.

The occasion would provide an opportunity to hold bilateral discussions with world leaders attending the conference to increase bilateral trade among the member countries.

According to the officials, in the long run, Pakistan might encourage public and private banks, companies in the energy sector, textiles and even major corporations such as the PTCL, PIA, Hubco, Uch Power, Aptma, Pakistan Steel Mills, Indus Motors to become WEF members.

Pakistan might increase and upgrade its participation in various WEF activities, which would provide a good opportunity to project Pakistan's investment agenda at the forum.

The WEF is an independent organization committed to improving the state of the world. The forum facilitates dialogue between corporate political intellectuals and other leaders on matters of global, regional, corporate and industry importance and also facilitates discussion acting as a catalyst for the development of key strategic insights.

The WEF embraces new challenges by developing initiatives, which support its core principles and values.