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Market trends, opportunities, trade and investment strategies were thoroughly discussed at a daylong conference held here at Toronto Congress Centre last week. The conference on ‘Capital Projects in Emerging Markets’ was organized by the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development & Trade, Foreign Affairs & International Trade Canada in cooperation with Canada-Pakistan Business Council and the Canada Arab Business Council.
The speakers identified the areas of Canada’s cooperation with oil-rich states of Middle East and South Asian countries, including Pakistan. The speakers included: Marie-Claude Erian and Lorne Cutler, both from Export Development Canada; Naeem Hasan, South Asia Group; Robert Schoellhammer, Asian Development Bank (ADB); Athar Moeen Khan, Canada’s Trade Commissioner in Karachi; Richard Mann, Canada-Arab Business Council, Joseph Fakhri, Trade Commissioner Riyadh;Karim H. Mahmud, Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP; Jamie Wright, Young Wright / IBI Group Architects, Luay Khoury, Projacs International Corporate Office, Bahrain; Corie McDougall, Ministry of Economic Development and Trade and Al Hinton, Ministry of Economic Development and Trade. 
During a panel discussion with special focus on Pakistan, Schoellhammer spoke at length on Asian Development Bank’s operation in Pakistan – an ADB’s founding member. He said ADB has so far invested $18.6 billion in Pakistan’s development proj-ects. “ADB has been helping Pakistan in raising infrastruc-ture, especially in its rural sec-tor”, he said. Athar Moeen Khan made a presentation on Pakistan’s chal-lenges and prospects in economic field. He said Pakistan is in ‘adjustment stage’ and there is every hope that its newly elected government will not only over-come the challenges but will also put the country on the road of progress and prosperity. Karim Mahmud, an energy expert, spoke on Pakistan’surgent gas and power needs. He said Pakistan needs to take quick measures to meet its energy crisis. While rais-ing infrastructure for enhancing power generation Pakistan should also motivate its people to con-serve energy. Naeem U. Hasan, Pakistan’s former Ambassador in his remarks said his country must take effective measures to improve its econ-omy. Hasan, who also served as Secretary General of SAARC (1996-1998) soughtinternational communities’ help for Pakistan who, he said, is a frontline state in the wear on ter-ror. A good number of CPBC members, including its President Andy Merchant attended the con-ference.Mr Anwar Khawar, senior Consul, represented Pakistani Consulate in Toronto. Ontario's Investment and Trade Division is a powerful resource that can help companies grow – both locally and internationally. That means it con-nect businesses in Ontario and throughout the world with the peo-ple, products and ideas that make Ontario "Canada's Economic Powerhouse". The Ontario Investment and Trade Service provides with assis-tance for all business ventures. Your first point of contact may be our rich resource of information online -- and to close your deals, or for any other key meetings, we invite you to use our innovative and beautifully designed meeting facilities with one of the most priv-ileged vantage points in Toronto. |
