The NWFP government is going to hold a two-day investment conference on March 14 and 15. The conference is also supported by the Board of Investment and Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI). The conference will be inaugurated by NWFP Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani while Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz will attend the concluding session. Taking to Business Recorder, Abdul Hameed Awan, an official of the Sarhad Development Authority (SDA), said for this purpose five sectors have been identified as priority sectors in the province.

These are hydropower, minerals, tourism, trade with Afghanistan and industries. He said about 100 to 200 domestic and foreign investors are expected to attend the conference.

In the opening session, the chief minister would be the chief guest while Federal Minister for Investment and Privatisation Abdul Hafeez Shaikh will present the keynote address.

The first session would be on the hydropower sector. Federal Minister for Water and Power Liaquat Ali Jatoi will be the chief guest while speaker would be NWFP Water & Power secretary/managing-director Sarhad Hydel Development Organisation.

Similarly, chief guest of the session on mineral exploration and production would be Federal Minister for Petroleum & Natural Resources Amanullah Khan Jadoon while the speaker would be Squadron Leader Nauman Wazir (Retd), managing-director, Master Marble (Pvt) Limited.

Federal Minister for Tourism G.G. Jamal would be the chief guest during the session on Investment in NWFP Tourism Industry while secretary, tourism, NWFP would give an overview of the tourism potential in NWFP in the context of provincial government policies.

Participants would also be shown documentary on tourism potential sites of the NWFP while a private sector representative would speak on challenges for investment in tourism sector.

Federal Minister for Commerce Humayun Akhtar Khan would be the chief guest during the session on trade with Afghanistan and the speaker would a former president of SCCI Ghulam Sarwar Khan Mohmand.

A documentary would also be shown on export of Pakistani products to Afghanistan. Similarly, the president of Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce & Industries would speak on opportunities for export to Afghanistan.

The last plenary session would be on investment opportunities and challenges for existing industries in NWFP. NWFP chief secretary Ejaz Ahmad Qureshi would be the chief guest, while Nauman Wazir, president, Industrialists Association, would be the key speaker.

The second speaker would be a representative of tobacco industry. Each session would be followed by discussions and formulation of recommendations for the sector concerned.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2005