The Singapore Business Federation (SBF) is the apex business chamber championing the interests of the Singapore business community in the areas of trade, investment and industrial relations. It represents 25,800 companies, as well as key local and foreign business chambers. This is a key visit for the Singapore-based companies to look at investment opportunities and collaborations in Pakistan; the delegation was led Ambassador Shamsher Zaman of the Government of Singapore to Jordan, who is also the Vice-Chairman of South Asia Business Group of the SBF. Mr.Alex Tan Wing Wton, Director Global business division, Mr.Imran Jahangir Nasrullah, CEO Cargill Pakistan, Abdul Lateef Siddiqui, MD Global radiance as well as 15 other CEO’s & CFO’s were part of this delegation. They represented various business interests from infrastructure, energy, agro-food, textile, shipping and many others.
Ambassador Shamsher Zaman & Mr. Alan tan informed the gathering that the SBF and ESG wished to gain insights on the business opportunities for Singapore companies, to seek updates on the economic development, market dynamics, and business and investment environment of Pakistan as well as providing Singaporean businesses with business matching and networking opportunities for them to meet with relevant key representatives of the Pakistan business community, government ministries and agencies. Moreover, they are also going to visit and gain an appreciation of Pakistan’s key projects and developments where relevant to the delegation’s business and commercial interests.
Advisor Mr. Abdur Razzaq Daoud, Parl.Secy Commerce Shandana Gulzar Khan, Minister IT KPK Mr. Kamran Bangash & Advisor Industry KPK, Mr.Abdul Karim Khan informed the delegation about the policy reform being undertaken in the SME sector, steps towards increasing ease of doing business, intellectual property rights protection & legislation for effective transfer of technology, opportunities for investment in Pakistan’s growing IT sector, SEZ’s, tourism, mining, house building, alternative energy, gems, shipping, ports, agro-food business and many others.
The Ambassador Shamsher discussed the options for Pakistani officials to be trained in Singapore on trade and business matters. The meeting concluded on a very positive note to continue such meetings to have early kick-off on collaboration between the business sector of the two countries.