ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Investment and Board of Investment (BOI) Chairman Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh met with a delegation of the Saudi Investment Forum to discuss ways to strengthen economic ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia and promote greater Saudi investment in Pakistan.
The delegation was led by Kunwar Qutbuddin and included Engr. Ghulam Safdar, President of the Pakistan Investor and Business Forum (PIBF), and Raja Riaz, Chairman of Mokamela International LLC.
During the meeting, the delegation briefed the minister on the Saudi Investment Forum, its structure and objectives. It said that the previously separate forums in Riyadh and Jeddah had been consolidated into a single forum representing Saudi Arabia, with a network of more than 400 businesses.
The delegation said the forum aims to provide a platform for credible businesses to develop commercial, investment and business-to-business links. It also highlighted Saudi Arabia’s growing role as a regional center for trade and investment and discussed opportunities for partnerships, joint ventures and long-term business cooperation.
Welcoming the delegation, Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh said Pakistan attaches great importance to its relations with Saudi Arabia and wants to further strengthen economic and investment cooperation between the two countries.
He said the BOI would facilitate genuine Saudi investors by helping them identify investment opportunities, coordinating with relevant government institutions and addressing issues that may arise during the investment process.
The minister briefed the delegation on the role of BOI’s Honorary Investment Counsellors in promoting Pakistan’s investment potential in international markets. He also highlighted government efforts to improve the business environment through regulatory reforms aimed at simplifying procedures and reducing unnecessary requirements.
Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh said the Business Facilitation Center (BFC) was helping investors and businesses deal with government departments through a coordinated, single-window system.
He identified agriculture, information technology, mining, manufacturing, energy, infrastructure, logistics, food processing and tourism among the sectors offering investment opportunities in Pakistan.
The minister also spoke about his background in the business community and said his experience had given him an understanding of the challenges faced by investors and entrepreneurs. He also referred to his involvement in education and social development, including his contribution to the establishment of FAST University in Chiniot.
The delegation invited Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh to attend a future investment conference being planned by the Saudi Investment Forum. The minister welcomed the invitation and expressed his willingness to engage with Saudi investors and business leaders.
Both sides expressed the expectation that closer cooperation between the Saudi Investment Forum and the BOI could help turn business interest into investment projects, joint ventures and long-term partnerships.
The minister reiterated that the BOI would continue to facilitate genuine Saudi investors and support efforts to strengthen economic cooperation between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
