Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh highlights the pivotal role of Pak’s SIFC in fostering investment opportunities across multiple sectors

NEW YORK, Nov 16 (SABAH): Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, met on Saturday with Mark Jaffe, President and CEO of the Greater New York Chamber of Commerce, to discuss initiatives aimed at enhancing bilateral trade and investment between Pakistan and New York.

The Ambassador appreciated the Chamber’s ongoing collaboration with the Consulate General of Pakistan in New York and thanked Mark Jaffe for his support and interest in Pakistan’s recent 5th International Textile and Leather Exhibition (TEXPO) 2024, held in Karachi last month. He also invited the Chamber to participate in the upcoming 4th Engineering & Healthcare Show scheduled to take place in Lahore in April 2025. During the meeting, the Ambassador highlighted the pivotal role of Pakistan’s Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) in fostering investment opportunities across multiple sectors. He underscored Pakistan’s liberal investment regime, strategic geographic location, and incentives for foreign investors, emphasizing the benefits for New York businesses seeking to expand their footprint in South and Central Asia. He noted that Pakistan’s Generalized System of Preferences Plus (GSP+) status in the EU and Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with China provides added advantages for investors.

Mark Jaffe expressed strong interest in Pakistan’s textile, leather, surgical, and IT sectors. He outlined the Chamber’s efforts to promote trade and investment between New York and Pakistan and assured his commitment to disseminating information about Pakistan’s upcoming trade events to the Chamber’s extensive network.

Both sides concluded the meeting with a shared resolve to strengthen collaboration between the Chamber and the Consulate, aiming to further promote trade ties between New York and Pakistan.

Meanwhile Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh held an engaging interaction with Pakistani-origin students from various educational institutions in New York during a meeting hosted at the Consulate General of Pakistan. The Ambassador underscored the vital role of youth in strengthening Pakistan’s future and its diaspora’s contribution to fostering positive relations between Pakistan and the United States. He encouraged the students to excel in their academic pursuits, remain connected to their cultural heritage, and actively engage in initiatives that uplift Pakistan’s global image. During the meeting, students shared their academic experiences and perspectives on how to enhance collaboration between Pakistani institutions and international universities. The discussions reflected the vibrant potential of the Pakistani-American youth and their aspirations for contributing to Pakistan’s socio-economic development.

Consul General of Pakistan in New York, Aamer Ahmed Atozai, was also present on the occasion and reiterated the Consulate’s commitment to supporting the diaspora, particularly the younger generation, in achieving their academic and professional goals. The event concluded with a collective resolve to strengthen the role of the Pakistani diaspora in fostering people-to-people ties and promoting Pakistan’s soft power on the global stage.