ISLAMABAD: A five-member delegation led by Ali Fekri, Deputy Minister and Head of Organization for Investment Economic and Technical Assistance of Iran (OIETAI) called on Federal Minister for Board of Investment (BOI) Chaudhry Salik Hussain here on Tuesday.

Both sides agreed to take the necessary steps for the signing of the Pak-Iran Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) and negotiations on the draft BIT are ongoing.

During the meeting, they discussed matters pertaining to joint investment cooperation between Pakistan and Iran in detail, the 3rd meeting of the Pakistan-Iran Joint Investment Committee (JIC) has been scheduled to be held in the BOI on Thursday, June 15, 2023.

They also discussed the agenda items proposed by the Iranian side by taking on board all the stakeholders from Pakistan’s side.

Two meetings of the Pakistan-Iran JIC had already been held virtually on July 14, 2021 and February 14, 2022, respectively.

Federal Minister Chaudhry Salik Hussain said that under the framework of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Pakistan is developing nine Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and expeditious development of four out of these nine SEZs under way, to provide a conducive business environment for local, as well as foreign enterprises.

He said that the investment opportunities and incentives in these SEZs are equally available to all investors from around the world, without any prejudice, adding that therefore Iranian investors are encouraged to avail the opportunities provided by the CPEC SEZs through participation as zone developers or enterprises.

The delegation comprised Seyyed Asia Abtahi, Adviser to the Head of OIETAI, Pauria Parto, Adviser to the Head of OIETAI, NabiOllah Shirazi, Deputy Head of Mission Embassy of Iran and Zahra Ghadyanlou second secretary, Embassy of Iran.

From Pakistan side, Khashiur Rehman, additional secretary BOI, Nadeem Bashir, director general, and Atif Umar Khalil, director attended the meeting.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2023