The Managing
Committee of the Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI)
called on Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi at Prime Minister’s Office
today.
Mr. Muhammad
Pervaiz Malik, Minister for Commerce, Mr. Ali Jahangir Siddiqui, SAPM, and
senior officials were present during the meeting. Mr. Khalid Mansoor,
President OICCI, presented to the Prime Minister results of Perception and
Investment Survey 2017 conducted in November 2017 among the leading 190 foreign
investors who are members of OICCI.
He informed the
Prime Minister that the survey reflected improved and positive sentiments of
the foreign investors who foresee continued growth trajectory due to improved
security situation and major policy initiatives by the present government. He
said that majority of the respondents plan to make new or further enhance their
investments in the next 1 to 5 years, as compared to what they had been making
in the previous corresponding years. He expressed the hope that new investments
in business and human capital would boost revenues and profitability.
President OICCI
also shared certain concerns vis-a-vis ease of doing business, inter-provincial
coordination and tax-related issues. He also presented suggestions for further
improvement of business environment in the country. The Prime Minister, while
welcoming OICCI suggestions, observed that encouraging and facilitating local
as well as foreign investors to take advantage of the huge existing business
opportunities has remained the foremost priority of the present government. He
said that as a result of structured approach and ensuring continuity of the
economic policies by the present government, confidence of the business
community has restored and economy has been put on a solid track to achieve
sustainable growth.
The Prime
Minister said that the government was committed to take relevant stakeholders
on-board in the policy formulation process as well as ensuring unimpeded
implementation of those policies. He further observed that the Government would
continue to welcome all suggestions aimed at removing bottlenecks and improving
ease of doing business in the country.
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