Press Release

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Government Effectiveness / Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Jehanzeb Khan and Secretary Board of Investment (BOI) Sohail Khan Rajput represented Pakistan in the FAO Hand in Hand Investment Forum from 16- 20 October, 2023. A summary of the engagement is given under.

17 October, Secretary BOI gave Country Presentation on prospects and opportunities of Investment in Pakistan. The Delegates also attended Roundtable with IFIs with CEOs of Global Firms, and pitched projects in Agriculture Sector seeking collaboration in innovative technologies, post-harvest loss control, farm management and establishing crop and beef clusters.

18 October, the delegation attended the Roundtable with Traditional Donors and Global Foundations marked by a shift in donors towards climate change mitigation technologies and green growth. The delegates underscored Pakistan`s initiatives for sustainable farming.

19 October, the delegates held a bilateral with Mr.Ethiopis Tafara, Vice President Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA-World Bank). The interaction focused on collaboration with MIGA on projects of risk mitigation, investment guarantees and risk insurance for foreign and domestic investors.

20 October, SAPM held a bilateral meeting with DG FAO Dr. Qu Dongyu. The SAPM introduced SIFC and its initiatives particularly related to Agriculture and noted the devastation caused by Floods of 2022. DG FAO, recalled the Geneva Conference over floods in Pakistan & expressed keen interest to promote bilateral cooperation at Federal and Provincial level, noting that availability, accessibility and affordability of food has become a global challenge which warrants enhanced cooperation in the projects related to food supply chain.

DG FAO observed that Pakistan has plentiful resources to meet not only its domestic food requirements but of many others in need, however enhanced capacity building especially at the youths to undertake agro ventures followed with enhance productivity through research and farm mechanization was emphasized. He assured FAO`s continuous support for modernization of Pakistan`s Agriculture Sector and expressed intention to visit Pakistan in 1^st half of 2024.

Pakistan Embassy, Rome.
October 26, 2023.