Sindh govt facilitating projects worth $8bn

[Neo]

Sindh govt facilitating projects worth $8bn

Wednesday, 31 Mar, 2010

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has said the government is facilitating projects worth $8 billion, which are at various stages from planning to implementation.

These include steel mills in private sector, wind energy projects, petro-chemical and oil refineries and Thar coal power projects, which would create jobs and economic opportunities for common man.

Mr Shah, who earlier presided over a meeting of Sindh Board of Investment (SBI), was addressing a press conference on Tuesday at the Chief Minister House along with his adviser on investment Zubair Motiwala and adviser on planning and development Qaiser Bengali, who highlighted the details of the measures taken by the government to attract investment in the province.

The CM said that there were vast opportunities for investment in the field of agriculture, livestock, dairy, fisheries, tourism and energy sector and the SBI was endeavouring to develop socio-economic zones.

He said the government on its part was making every possible effort to provide facilities to investors in Sindh, where there were vast opportunities in different fields, agriculture sector in particular.

Mr Motiwala, who is vice-chairman of the SBI, in response to a question said the government had planned Sindh Investment Conference, 2010 on April 10, which will be attended, besides local investors, multinational companies and traders and foreign diplomats.

On the occasion a brief was also distributed in which the measures taken by the government to attract investors were highlighted, including the legislation on public-private-partnership (PPP), establishment of development fund for providing subsidy to investors farm, dairy, livestock and fisheries sectors.

Besides, according to the brief, the SBI was also preparing feasibilities for exporting its farm products like rice, dates, mango, guava, red chillies, aquaculture, dairy, livestock, and granite etc.

Education city, which was lying idle since 2001, now stood and revived with active participation of its stakeholders, where survey and master planning had been initiated.

APP adds: He pointed out that Sindh Board of Investment has identified 20,000 acres of land in Thatta district, which has 350 km long coastline ideal for shrimp, crab and fish farming.

He informed that fisheries department will arrange extension and processing services with the assistance of Chinese or Iranian governments.

He told the meeting that the SBI will form a Zone development company for infrastructure
development.

He said that marketing of 100 fully developed fish farms each on 25 hectares will be managed jointly with Chinese experts for two years and cost pay back in five years.

According to him Pasdec has established six marble cities all over the country and in this connection, Karachi Marble city on 300 acres of land has been identified near Northern Bypass. The project will upgrade the marble processing industry.

The meeting was informed that AZUR - Solar of Germany have offered to install 50MW solar energy plant. Initially it will have 5-10MW installed capacity and for this three probable sites have been identified at Dhabeji, Education City and Bhambhore.

It was also informed that M/s Transatlantic Energy have offered assistance in access to $6 million Dutch grant facility - ORIO, under which 35MW wind energy farm will be set up.

http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/...48bn-130-za-03