The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) registered 24 foreign companies having foreign investment in key sector including services, trading, communications and power generation during May, 2009 against 16 companies registered in April, 2009.
According to the SECP data issued here on Thursday, the commission has observed that foreign investors having participation in these companies belong to a diversified geographical spread of countries around the globe. Indeed, this is a positive sign as it reflects a renewed confidence in Pakistani markets and economy.
Foreign investors from USA have participation in 5 companies followed by UK, Canada and China in 3 companies each. Other foreign investors belong to Nigeria and Afghanistan in 2 companies each, and Denmark, North Korea, Germany, Zambia, Ghana, Switzerland, Iran and Turkey having participation in one company each.
Of these 24 companies, foreign investment has been made in 5 companies each in the top sectors of services and trading sector. Others include 3 companies in communications, 2 each in food and beverages, construction and power generation, and 1 each in information technology, tourism, fertiliser and mining sector.
This trend shows the wide range of sectors in which foreign investment is taking place. In addition, 9 foreign companies have also been registered during May, 2009, for establishing their places of business in Pakistan. Of these, 4 foreign companies have UK as country of origin, 2 with U.A.E., and one each having Japan, Netherlands and Singapore as their countries of origin, the SECP added.