Italian team visits ID&BoI

Islamabad: A high profile Italian delegation engaged in construction-infrastructure projects and headed by the Italian Ambassador to Islamabad visited ID&BoI in order to acquire information on investment climate and opportunities and seek joint ventures with prominent Pakistani counterpart companies, says a press release.

Important Italian organisations that were part of this delegation comprising the Impregilo, the Astaldi, the Ansaldo Energia, the Sicon Oil & Gas, and the Eni. The Investment Division and the BoI in order to facilitate their visit organised a businessmen networking session in the Board Room of ID&BOI.

The meeting was attended by leading businessmen /companies representing construction sector of Pakistan. This included the Al Ghurair Giga Pakistan, the Pak Gulf Construction Company, the NesPak, the Emaar Pakistan, the Bahria Town, the Descon, and the Hashoo Group.

The main objective of this meeting was to introduce main players in the construction sector on both sides and provide them an opportunity to discuss about key areas interests which can culminate later on in the form of concrete joint venture partnerships.

As for the profile of Italian companies, the Impregilo was a leading contractor in the engineering works of Tarbela Dam and Ghazi Brotha Run of River Hydroelectric Project in Pakistan. the Astaldi made its first presence felt in Pakistan through the Sukkur Ring Road Project in the transportation sector. The Ansaldo Energia has been a part of thermo electric projects like Shahdra, Kot Addu, Bin Qasim 3-4, Hub River Plant and Liberty 1.

ID&BOI Secretary Ahmad Waqar, while welcoming the delegation said that there is tremendous potential for Italian companies to invest in construction sector of Pakistan. This would enable Pakistan to meet its infrastructure challenges by investment, technology transfer, education and training, he added.

He also said this relationship will be in accord with the demands of the global economy. ID&BOI Executive Director-General Major Iqbal Ahmad (retd) informed the delegates that Pakistan has the sixth largest population in the world, and it is the aim of the government to provide them world class infrastructure and services.

He urged the Italian investors to bring in their global experience and best practices so as to get access to local opportunities, while the Pakistani firms will benefit from the transfer of knowledge and experience. The Italian delegation lauded the efforts of he BoI for organising a very productive business networking session.