"Due to heavy investments and infrastructure developments under the CPEC, Pakistan will be counted among 25 emerging economies in the world by 2025," the minister said while speaking to a two-day "international business conference and exhibition 2017" (IBCE) here at the Expo Centre on Saturday which was organised by the University of Management and Technology (UMT).
He said Pakistan is an attractive destination for business and investment due to its low cost of production and attractive business locations. "We can create a win-win situation to transform Pakistan into a hub of trade, commerce and manufacturing," he said, adding that growth in Asia will contribute 52 percent to the world''s GDP by 2050.
"Through the CPEC, we are constructing an infrastructure of regional connectivity that will integrate Pakistan with three regions; South Asia, Central Asia and China which will enable Pakistan to be a part of global supply and logistic chain in every field," the minister said.
Ahsan added that Gwadar will also enable Pakistan to become an important player in the maritime sector of world trade. He said infrastructure developments worth millions of rupees are being spent under the CPEC to translate Pakistan into the modern economy. "There are tremendous opportunities for Pakistan," he added.
In the meantime, the minister also criticised his political opponents, saying his only point of caution is to avoid watching talk shows between 8:00 to 12:00 pm. "The impression that Pakistan is sinking starts at 8:00 pm at night and finishes at midnight," Ahsan Iqbal said.
"The World Bank, international rating agencies, Bloomberg and economists hold positive view about Pakistan but when you watch your section of media, they would make you believe that Pakistan is sinking," he claimed. The federal minister said they have endorsements from credible international sources that they should not feel ''doom and gloom''.
Dr Hasan Sohaib Murad, Chairman Board of Governors of the UMT, said the purpose of this conference was to attract foreign investors to visit a changed Pakistan and invest in sectors of their choice. He said the UMT is playing its role by contributing to the national development. He announced to hold the IBCE next year too.
Ihsan Sener, Chief Advisor to the Turkish President, Abdou Maman, Minister for Industries Nigeria, Tang Nguon Song, Advisor to the Royal Government of Cambodia and Hasan Ali Celik, Deputy Minister for Science, Industry and Technology also spoke on the occasion.
It is to be noted that the UMT''s international business conference and exhibition was organized to illustrate important sectors, which include clean energy, automobile, IT & telecom, textile, services, construction and housing, manufacturing, food and agriculture and fast-moving consumer goods. Technical expo and education conference went in parallel, giving a fascinating look to the visitors.
Over 150 group of companies and business firms representing 15 countries, 300 exhibitors, four top diplomats from Turkey, Cambodia and Nigeria, a dozen CEOs of multinational companies and more than 70 national companies registered at UMT''s International Business Conference and Exhibition (IBCE-2017) and showed their profiles, innovation and the work they do.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2017