KUWAIT CITY, May 8: President Asif Ali Zardari while assuring full protection to foreign investments, on Sunday invited the Kuwaiti businessmen and entrepreneurs to take advantage of the investment-friendly policies of the present government. As Pakistan has steadfastly pursued liberalization and de-regulation of economy as well as the privatization process, there is no upper limit of foreign equity and no restriction on repatriation of capital, profits and dividends, the president told a delegation of Kuwait Chambers of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), which was led by its Chairman Ali Mohammad Thunyan Al-Ghanim, here at the Bayan Palace.
The president, who arrived Kuwait Saturday evening on  a two-day official visit, said with an attractive package of tax incentives, investments in Pakistan are given comprehensive legal protection.
Advisor to PM on Petroleum and Natural Resources Dr.  Asim Hussain, Secretary General M. Salman Faruqui, Spokesperson to the President Farhatullah Babar and Pakistan’s Ambassador to Kuwait Iftekhar Aziz were also present in the meeting.

Signing
The president also referred to the signing of a bilateral Pak-Kuwait Agreement on Encouragement and Reciprocal Protection of Investment during the visit of Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani in February and said after this agreement, any possible concerns that a prospective Kuwaiti investor might have nurtured about the safety of investment in Pakistan, should have been put to rest.
President Zardari told the Kuwaiti entrepreneurs that a number of areas including energy sector, downstream oil industry, port development, mining and minerals, corporate agriculture, livestock and dairy development, construction, textiles, banking and financial sectors offer lucrative opportunities and were open for investment in Pakistan.
He said owing to the economic reforms measures and the liberal investment regime, the World Bank’s ranking for Pakistan as business friendly country have significantly improved. 
The President said despite the peculiar environment due to complex regional situation, Pakistan has done remarkably well in the economic field, as the country’s stock exchange was thriving, foreign remittances and foreign currency reserves reaching record level and exports are expected to touch a new high figure in the current financial year.
He said Pakistan located at the crossroads of Central, South West and East Asia, the country’s proximity to China further accentuates its geo-economic profile. Additionally, given its own market size of 180 million people, availability of trained human and rich natural resources coupled with business-friendly policies, Pakistan offers tremendous trade and investment opportunities, he added. 
The President was of the view that with Pakistan and Kuwait already having a bilateral trade agreement as well as a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between the chambers of two countries to boost their trade ties, there still remained an untapped potential to give a quantum jump in the volume of trade between the two countries.
He said Pakistan-Kuwait trade volume in fiscal year 2009-10 stood at $2.2 billion, with Pakistan exports at merely $87 million against $2.1 billion of imports primarily of High Speed Diesel from Kuwait.
The President said Pakistan is universally acknowledged for its basmati rice, textiles and clothing, sports goods, surgical instruments, carpets, marble, tents and many other products. The increased buying of these products from Pakistan by the Kuwaiti importers can help address to some extent, the present imbalance in our bilateral trade, he added.
Earlier, a senior executive of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation Sheikh Talal al Khalid al Jaber al Sabah also called on the President and discussed ways and means for cooperation in oil and gas sectors between the two countries. They reviewed the vast potential for cooperation in the vial sector and agreed for more future engagements in this regard.
Meanwhile, His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received at Bayan Palace on Sunday visiting President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari and the official delegation accompanying him in the presence of His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
Official talks between the two sides were held today headed by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and His Highness Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Prime Minister and senior state officials, whereas the Pakistani President, Asif Ali Zardari, and senior officials of the Government of Pakistan represented their country in the talks.
Deputy Minister of Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Ali Jarrah Al-Sabah said the talks dealt with bilateral relations between both countries and peoples and ways of enhancing development in various fields and expand cooperation between the two sides in order to serve their common interests.
He added that the talks also touched on latest regional and international developments.
The talks were held in a friendly atmosphere which reflected the spirit of friendship that characterizes the relationship between the two countries and their mutual desire to further enhance cooperation and coordination at various levels, he said.

Relations
Also, HH the Prime Minister of Kuwait Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah called on President Asif Ali Zardari here at the Bayan Palace and discussed bilateral relations as well as other matters of mutual interest. President Zardari, had a frank discussion with the Prime Minister of Kuwait on bilateral and regional matters, with particular focus on the way and means to bolster trade and economic cooperation between the two brotherly countries.
The President referred to the close, friendly and historic ties between Pakistan and Kuwait and said the two countries sharing common views on major regional and international issues have always stood by each other in every hour of trial. He appreciated the Kuwaiti government for always extending support and assistance to the Pakistani people in difficult times, with the latest during the last year’s devastating floods. 
The President mentioned the energy shortages faced by Pakistan, that were badly affecting economic growth, and said Kuwait can help Pakistan in tackling this crisis by encouraging the Kuwaiti investment in the energy related infrastructure projects.
Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah reciprocating to the sentiments of President Zardari also hailed Pakistan’s support for Kuwait in every difficult hour, particularly after the Iraqi invasion in 1991.   
He agreed with President Zardari’s view of increased trade and economic cooperation between the two brotherly countries and assured the Kuwaiti government’s all out support in this respect.