BAHRAIN: The first and largest Pakistan Bahrain Business Opportunities Conference was organized by Javed Malik, Pakistan’s ambassador in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
The conference proved a resounding success participated by more than 400 delegates including members of the royal family, chairmen, CEOs and managing directors of leading businesses based in Bahrain, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and other Gulf countries.
The conference was co-chaired by the ministers of commerce of Pakistan and the Kingdom of Bahrain and presidents of FPCCI and Bahrain Chamber of Commerce. Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador Javed Malik highlighted the business, trade and investment opportunities in Pakistan and thanked Commerce Minister Khurram Dastagir Khan for co-chairing the conference.
“We appreciate the commerce minister for his support and guidance, and look forward to working closely with his ministry in taking the Pakistan Bahrain economic relations to a new level”. Ambassador Javed Malik added, “It was in line with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s policy of active economic diplomacy that we took the initiative to organize the first Pakistan Bahrain Business Opportunities Conference. It was for the first time that such a huge Pakistan focused conference was organized in Bahrain or the GCC region and it has sent a positive message to the business community that Pakistan offers some of the most lucrative trade and investment opportunities.
It also paves the way for our business communities to connect and explore new avenues of cooperation and expanding their business, trade and export horizons,” said Ambassador Javed Malik. Commerce Minister Khurram Dastagir in his impressive speech highlighted the steps being taken by the government to ensure stability, and create an enabling environment for businessmen and investors in Pakistan. Special presentations were also made by Punjab Board of Investment and Trade, Sindh Board of Investment and Balochistan Commerce Ministry in order to showcase various opportunities in Pakistan, which were well received by the high profile business leaders from the Gulf countries including members of the royal family.
The Bahraini Minister Commerce Zayed Al Zayani and Bahrain Chamber of Commerce Chairman Khalid Al Moyyed, as well as president of Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry were also present on the occasion.
Ambassador Javed Malik also chaired a joint meeting of Bahraini and Pakistani businessmen on sidelines of the conference in which it was announced that Bahraini businessmen would collaborate with Pakistani businessmen and create Pakistan Bahrain Investment Company which would invest into projects in Pakistan. It was also announced that, a Pakistan Trade center would be opened in Bahrain in association with Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry which would showcase Pakistani products that could be exported to Bahrain and the GCC region.
In order to agree a framework of cooperation, MoUs were signed between Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, as well as additional MoUs with Economic Development Board of Bahrain with both Punjab Board of Investment and Trade, and Sindh Board of Investment.