ISLAMABAD (February 18 2004): Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar Khan has asked the Canadian companies to invest in the food processing sector in Pakistan that offer great opportunities to the foreign investors.

He was talking to an 11-member delegation of Canada-Pakistan Business Council (CPBC) who called on him on Tuesday. CPBC President Anwar Merchant headed the delegation.

The two sides discussed various issues relating to business and trade between Pakistan and Canada. The Canadian companies showed keen interest in investing in Pakistan, especially in the food processing and the prospects of business process outsourcing in the country.

They expressed the desire to outsource manufacturing of automobile parts to the Pakistani companies.

They proposed these parts after being manufactured in Pakistan could be exported to Canada and the United States.

The Canadian businessmen also evinced interest to invest in IT, telecom, high-pressure aluminum die casting projects and joint ventures for manufacturing and distribution of compressed natural gas (CNG) devices.

The Canada-Pakistan Business Council was founded in 1981 by a group of Canadian businessmen and the Consul General of Pakistan in Montreal in order to promote business, trade and investment between both the countries.

The council's membership includes companies, associations and individuals in both the countries who share an interest in the development of business between the two countries.

Sinclair Stevens, former minister for industries, Canada, was also included in the delegation.

Courtesy Business Recorder