The visiting Netherlands Foreign Minister, Bernard Bot, called on NWFP Governor Khalil-ur-Rehman at the Governor House here on Wednesday. He was also accompanied by Dutch Ambassador in Pakistan W Andreae.
The Governor highlighted the geographical importance of the province and the adjoining Federally Administered Tribal Areas and the system of governance, with special reference to the prospects of economic uplift there.
He thanked the government and people of Netherlands for their help and co-operation in mitigating the miseries of the earthquake affected people of the province.
The Governor apprised the guests about the prospects of economic uplift in FATA and said that the area is highly rich in mineral resources and technical assistance and foreign investment towards its scientific exploitation would definitely be welcome.
Khalil said that some foreign entrepreneurs have already expressed intentions to invest in the mineral sector. He particularly mentioned the deposits of marbles and said that an Italian firm was already in touch with the respective quarters to establish a tiles manufacturing unit in the area which, on materialisation, would definitely prove a significant source of earning foreign exchange.