ISLAMABAD (January 23 2010): Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi will co-chair with UAE Foreign Minister Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahayan an important Pakistan Investment and Public Private partnership conference, being organised by Friends of Democratic Pakistan (FoDP) in Dubai on January 26.

Pakistan's Ambassador at Large Javed Malik, based in Dubai, giving details of the conference said the focus will be on building closer business to business relations among the FoDP countries and Pakistan, as well as explore ways to enhance the business and trade relationship.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi will lead a high level delegation that would include Federal Minister for Investment Waqar Ahmed, Minister of State for Economic Development Hina Khar, as well as senior officials and experts from ministries of water and power, petroleum and natural resources, privatisation, agriculture, health, board of investment, national highway authority, WAPDA and others.

The officials will also give presentations on the economic outlook of Pakistan as well as various investment opportunities available in Pakistan for the international businessmen. Javed Malik said the conference will focus on various business opportunities that Pakistan offers in the field of energy, infrastructure development, agriculture and agro-based industry, social sector, education, health and other areas.

He said the conference would be an excellent opportunity for businessmen, and foreign investors to get the correct and first-hand information about Pakistan's economic outlook as well as the opportunities that the country offers to the foreign investors. The conference will also provide an opportunity for the businessmen and the investors to interact with government representatives from Pakistan.

Friends of Democratic Pakistan (FoDP) was launched in September 2008 on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York with special efforts taken by President Asif Ali Zardari during his visit. It was jointly chaired by Pakistan, United States, United Arab Emirates as well as United Kingdom. The FoDP aims at addressing the challenges being faced by Pakistan and extend support to the country in achieving its development goals.

Copyright Associated Press of Pakistan, 2010