Investment pouring in shows upward trend
Staff Report

ISLAMABAD—The current investment pouring in the country has shown upward trend in the first half of current financial year despite all security concerns and negative propaganda of international against the country.
The FDI inflows in Pakistan during July-December, 2007 was recorded at US $ 2.067 Billion, major portion of which has come from the developed countries including USA, UAE and UK, Secretary Investment Division and Board of Investment told members of a delegation that called on him here on Friday.
Managing Director Corporate Relations Metro Cash and Carry, GiovanniSoranzo and its Head Parvaiz Akhtar called on Secretary to discuss various issues related to investment. Giovanni Soranzo told the BoI Secretary that their projects in Pakistan were going on smoothly adding that their outlet in Islamabad would be operational by March 2008.
He said their experience in Pakistan was phenomenal and beyond their expectations. He said that the Metro met more success in Pakistan and has been now planning to expand its business operations in more cities includingGujranwala and Faisalabad. Metro has brought advance technology in its operational setup, createdroughly over 200 job creations per store, capacity building of their employees by foreign training. While commenting on Pakistan as an investment destination, he said that Pakistan was very promising market keeping in view its population of around 160 million, a noticeably developing infrastructure and an impressive growth perspective.