The two-day virtual SDG Investment Fair 2021 organised by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs has recently concluded. In the event Pakistan has introduced eight selected projects covering sustainable development goals, with high potential to attract foreign direct investment (FDI).
The projects were from varied sectors including infrastructure, hydro power, medical devices development center, silicon solar PV panels fabrication, production of agriculture drones and smart farms, university technology parks and IT incubation centers across Pakistan. Besides that Pakistan’s tax and incentive regime was also part of the presentation wherein it was conveyed that the government is offering special incentives for projects related to technology, clean energy and social sector including housing and construction.
The SDG investment Fair 2021 provided four developing countries the opportunity to present their investment ready projects to international global investors & fund managers. It is an annual platform with the goal of facilitating new partnership opportunities to generate regional and global investments in social impact projects of developing countries.
From Pakistan Secretary Board of Investment (BoI), Fareena Mazhar represented the country on the global forum. Highlighting the facilitation for investors under the ongoing reform drives namely Pakistan Regulatory Modernization Initiative (PRMI) & Ease of Doing Business (EODB), she stated that a company can now be registered in 24 hours & Pakistan is now offering online e- visa facility to more than 174 countries.
BoI has a repository of over $14 billion SDG aligned projects in the sector of transport and communication, energy including renewable energy, water supply and sanitation, education, health care and information technology. These projects will not only contribute to SDGs but will also support local employment generation and economic growth.
Pakistan is an emerging market with great opportunities for investments in its growing economy, as it offers pivotal geo-economic location, regional connectivity, a huge consumer market with an expanding middle class, and a large segment of skilled, vibrant and youthful population to its valued investors.
By
Editorial, Infocus
