“My investor is my owner,” Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday invited Turkish businessmen to invest in a 10,000 MW solar power project for Pakistan.
The prime minister called for the investment while addressing a meeting of the Pakistan-Turkey Business Council in Istanbul, where he arrived later on a two-day visit.
He told investors his government was committed to reducing “expensive” imports of oil and petroleum products, which cost $27 billion last year. “We just can’t afford it.”
So, he explained, his government had invited foreign investment for a 10,000 MW solar power project at a conference in Islamabad about a month and a half ago.
The prime minister had approved the implementation of the solar project in September as part of measures to reduce the import bill.
“This is not just a paper, or a talk, or a feasibility,” he said of today’s plan. With investment from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE will implement this scheme in true sense. (United Arab Emirates), from the United States of America, wherever.
He assured the investors that the Government of Pakistan would create a conducive, conducive and friendly environment for them to invest in the project.
“Please try to understand that the past is the past, and as we move towards the future with great understanding, learn from the past.
We will proceed with the determination that my investor is my master. And this is what I believe — not from today but from time to time — and this is what we are going to implement in times to come,” he convinced his audience.
“Please open your coffers and be ready,” he urged them, announcing that his government would hold a special conference for “my Turkish brothers and sisters” where a presentation on the plan would be made will be given.
He assured the investors that they would be assured of early payments.
“It will be a complete departure from the past. Within 60 days, Turkey, and indeed all international investors, will be paid without recourse to a third party.” He added that the payments will be fast and transparent.
The prime minister said he believed it would be a “gateway to a new order in Pakistan” and would save the country billions of dollars by reducing fuel imports.
“Please trust me, trust my words. Come to Pakistan and I will show you that God willing we will be the best partners in this great investment portfolio, which will be a win-win situation,” he said. “You will get great returns and we will benefit, get energy from the sun,” he urged investors.
Prime Minister Shehbaz assured them that the bidding process would be transparent and fair and free from bureaucratic delays.
He also asked the Pakistani ambassador in Istanbul to facilitate Turkish investors to come to Pakistan.
“Please come to Pakistan, Bhai Naveed Qamar will welcome you at the airport, roll out the red carpet and I will break bread with you and have a full discussion there. And we will open the doors of the rooms only when we are done with everything.” will get a firm and solid understanding of the situation,” he told investors.
Agreement to increase trade volume
Prime Minister Shehbaz also emphasized the need to increase trade between Pakistan and Turkey.
He lamented that the brotherly ties have a long history but this was not reflected in the volume of trade and investment between the two countries.
The Prime Minister said that he knows that Turkish businessmen are keen to invest in Pakistan and urged to resolve the issues hindering trade and investment between the two countries.
“Let us learn from our experience of the past and move forward with momentum so that we can make up for the losses of the past… There is unlimited capacity and potential on both sides. Let us harmonize them. Let us hold them together.”
He stressed the need to reduce red tape and ease business regulations to promote investment, announcing that Pakistan and Turkey have increased trade volume between the two countries from the current $1-1.5 billion. signed a memorandum of understanding to raise $5 billion. three years.
He assured the Turkish businessmen that whatever problems they are facing or will face will be resolved.
Defense cooperation
Regarding defense cooperation, the Prime Minister said that Pakistan and Turkey have already started the process of joint cooperation on this front and assured that the cooperation will be further increased in the future.
He said that we will have great opportunities to defend our countries through our mutual cooperation.
The Prime Minister said that Turkey and Pakistan are two brotherly countries that believe in peace, “in peaceful means of existing in this world and coexisting with each other, which unfortunately, consider force to be justifiable. And their military developments.” And with monetary power, some have a habit of dictating terms.
“But we believe in peaceful means and peaceful instruments, and this should be a global system.”
Earlier, the prime minister described the launch of the Milgam corvette as one of the “best moments” in Turkey-Pakistan relations that will strengthen and expand defense production and joint cooperation between the two countries.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif witnessed the inauguration of the third of the four Milgam corvettes for the Pakistan Navy at the Istanbul Shipyard on Friday.
The Milgam project – a joint venture between Turkey and Pakistan – was signed in 2018 with Turkey’s state-owned defense contractor firm ASFAT Inc., under which the Pakistan Navy will acquire four Milgam-class ships from Turkey.
Speaking about the project today, Prime Minister Shehbaz said the Milgem Corvette is a “great step” in defense cooperation between the two countries.
