Profitable business ventures of over 80 US multinational corporations in Pak should serve to encourage investors: Sardar Masood Khan

WASHINGTON, May 19 (SABAH): “Profitable business ventures of over 80 US multinational corporations (MNCs) in Pakistan should serve to encourage investors and the business community to not only take advantage of a growing market of 240 million but also use the strategic location of the country for serving a huge market of Central and West Asia, Middle East and North Africa,” said Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States Sardar Muhammad Masood Khan.

“An enterprising middle class and the growing needs of a developing economy have created huge opportunities for the business community to establish as well as expand their businesses and to reap dividends by fulfilling the existing unmet demand,” he continued.

Ambassador Masood Khan made these remarks while talking to senior executives of PepesiCo at Embassy of Pakistan on Friday.

PepsiCo senior directors Mohammad Khosa and Ms. Caroline Berson, while noting success of the company in Pakistan in beverages and food sector said that the country was serving as an export hub for its manufactured products to regional countries like Afghanistan. The finished food products made in Pakistan were also being exported to Qatar, Malaysia, and Philippines, they said.

Mohammad Khosa informed that PEPSICO was investing $ 80-90 million in Pakistan every year. He assured to enhance and diversify PepsiCo’s investment in Pakistan.

Ambassador Masood Khan said that there was a need for better coordination among stakeholders to showcase success stories of the business community in two countries.

“Holding of road shows and enhancing frequency of business delegation exchanges would go a long way in promoting better linkages and business networks and helping the business communities to explore available business opportunities,” he stressed.

Discussing the proposal of holding of road-shows in the major US cities like New York, Washington D.C, Houston, Chicago and Los Angeles, Sardar Masood Khan underscored the need for better collaboration among US MNCs working in Pakistan, American Business Forum, American Business Council  and US-Pakistan Business Chamber. He assured all possible facilitation by Pakistan Missions in the United States.

PepsiCo executives expressed keen interest in organizing road shows and exhibitions in the US and agreed to explore the possibilities of establishing liaison with other businesses and organizations.