40 Italian Companies All Set to Explore Pakistan’s Economic Potential: Italian Envoy

Monday, April 4, 2016

H.E. Stefano PONTECORVO, Ambassador of Italy to Pakistan has said that “More than 40 Italian companies have expressed their willingness to explore the opportunities of the Pakistani market”. He announced this news today while speaking to a sizeable audience at the first day of “Seminar on investment opportunities in Pakistan” in Rome, Italy. “This is a great occasion for the Pakistani business community to have a more structured approach to the Italian manufacturers, hoping that some fruitful partnerships will follow” he added.
Ms. Amena Cheema, CEO Punjab Board of Investment and Trade (PBIT) is representing Punjab along with other businessmen from the agriculture, dairy, livestock, foot wear and pharmaceutical sectors including CEO IMAX and Dairy Solutions.

Many different sectors are represented in the Seminar including Packaging and Packaging Products, Agro Chemicals/ Agricultural Machinery, Fertilizers, Environmental Products, Chemicals, Industrial Equipment/ Industrial Machinery, Pharmaceutical Products, Foot wear Equipment, Services, Design, Laboratory Equipment and Railway Equipment.
Speaking at the occasion Ms. Amena Cheema, CEO PBIT said “SMEs are considered the backbone of Italy’s economy. There is considerable potential for cooperation and collaboration through joint ventures between SMEs on both sides, especially in the field of Information and Communications Technology”.
Ms. Cheema further said that Pakistan is a market of 200 million people, including a growing middle class that looks at Italian quality products with renewed interest. Secondly, Pakistan is becoming the gateway to a vast region of the Asian continent because of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor, a massive investments that will link it to the main international trade routes.
An engaging documentary by the name of “Punjab- the land of opportunity” was shown to the participants of the Seminar. Following the documentary, Ms. Amena Cheema also shed light on the potential of various sectors in Punjab and the available projects for investment through a comprehensive presentation.
Many B2B, G2B and G2G meetings are expected to take place on the second day of event.
Pakistan is of strategic importance for Italy and its economy. In 2015 alone, Italy has exported more than 400 billion Euros to Pakistan, with a surplus of 45 billions, but the overall trade volume with Pakistan shows that there is a great potential ahead.