The United Kingdom wants to increase its trade volume to the tune of pounds 2.5 billion from the current 1.5 billion pounds to Pakistan by 2015. "We have presence of 100 companies and their branded commodities on sale in Pakistan at present," said Francis Campbell, UK Deputy High Commissioner here at a reception Thursday night hosted for the UK based foreign investors who have come to Karachi to attend the sixth Expo Pakistan Exhibition.
"Pakistan has huge potential of investment in various sectors of economy and as far as law and order is concerned, it is an issue being faced by all the world over," he said while responding to queries of the media persons. He stressed for measures to promote export led growth between the two countries and added that with these goals UK based 50 companies are attending the exhibition to explore the avenues of investment.
"We have companies from UK which belong to various sectors ranging from information technology, sport-wear, hotel and tourism, creative and media, household items, packaging and alternate energy, besides, the service industry," Campbell added. Referring to last year's exhibition, the deputy high commissioner said Pakistan's private sector received orders worth dollars 80 million from UK.
"It is our endeavour to bridge the gap between the private sector of both the countries," he maintained. It may be mentioned here that Pakistan is hosting an international exhibition at Expo Centre here (19-23 October), which was inaugurated by Prime Minister, Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Wednesday last. The exhibition is being attended by foreign investors from 10 countries. The reception was largely attended by leading members of the business community and government functionaries.