'Pakistan has conducive atmosphere for investment'

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz says Pakistan has a conducive atmosphere for investment in all sectors of economy including energy, automobile, engineering and agriculture.
He was addressing a sixteen-member delegation of Japan-Pakistan Business Co-operation Committee headed by Japanese Parliamentary Secretary for Economy, Trade and Industry Ms Michiya Takagi here on Tuesday.
The Prime Minister said Pakistan is located at a very strategic position, which provides corridor of transportation and trade to Central Asia, Afghanistan and Middle East.
He said Pakistan focuses on building roads, rail, airport and seaport infrastructure to improve competitiveness and productivity. He said Pakistan is a hub of manufacturing, trade and services for the entire region.
Shaukat Aziz said as a result of economic reforms, our GDP growth reached seven percent for the last successive five years and per capita income increased with the improvement of life style of middle class.
He said Pakistan is open for foreign trade and investment in every sector of economy and urged the need to increase bilateral economic relations with Japan in real term.
He said at present trade tilted towards Japan and we want to balance it. Referring to foreign companies including Standard Chartered Bank, Philips Moros and Chinese Mobile which are investing in Pakistan, the Prime Minster said Japanese companies can invest in all sectors of economy in Pakistan.
He said Pakistan intends to set up free trade arrangements with Japan as it has already signed with other countries. In automobile sector, he said Japanese companies have been investing in setting plants and earning a lot of profit.
The Prime Minister said we have also set up special economic zones with low cost inputs and cheap labour and invited the foreign and local private sector to take the advantage.
He said the relations with Japan are multifaceted and both countries believe in peace and harmony. He said Pakistan wants to have friendly relations with its neighbours.
He said both countries are working for dispute resolutions on various issues. Japanese Parliamentary Secretary for Economy, Trade and Industry Ms Michiya Takagi appreciated Pakistan in achieving growth in manufacturing and construction sectors. She said Japanese companies are making investment in automobile sector and want to expand their business in this sector. She said Japan wants to strengthen economic and trade relations with Pakistan.