A delegation, headed by Ambassador of Thailand Marut Jitpatima along with Premchai Karnasuta, President BMA Capital and other Thai officials have shown interest to invest in establishing industrial zones in Pakistan. They expressed the desire during a meeting with State Minister/Chairman Board of Investment (BoI) Saleem Mandviwalla on Wednesday.
In this connection, chairman BoI briefed the establishment of successful industrial parks in Pakistan like 250 acre Korangi Creek Industrial Park Karachi, the 930 acre Bin Qasim Industrial Park near Port Qasim-Karachi and the 174 acre Rachna Industrial Park on the outskirts of Lahore. He appreciated that all these industrial parks are designed and developed incorporating core features of the world-class successful industrial parks.
During the discussion about investment opportunities in Pakistan, Thai delegation showed interest in Mining, Hydel Energy Power Plant, Infrastructure, Development of Economic Zones and Industrial Parks. Saleem H Mandviwalla appreciated the industrialisation pattern of Thailand who has undergone rapid industrial growth by focused development and professional management of industrial parks. He said that keeping in view the experience of Thais in development of Industrial parks and economic zones; it would be a great edge for us to learn from their experience. He also said that the government of Pakistan is taking serious steps to stimulate rapid industrial growth by establishing world class industrial parks in the country.
Chairman BoI proposed Thai investors to develop industrial parks and economic zones in major industrial hubs of Pakistan. He further briefed about the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) policy is been given preferential treatment with lucrative incentives. The delegation appreciated the incentives offered to Special Economic Zones in Pakistan, including exemption of levies on import of capital equipment for the zone developers and investors, corporate income tax holiday for 5 years for investors and 10 years for zone developers.