TRADE MISSION TO PAKISTAN
September 8th – 17th, 2006

A high-powered Mission comprising of 11 delegates, mainly from the Financial and Service sectors of Canada, visited Pakistan. A delegation of such magnitude would not have been possible without the relentless efforts of those who contributed in putting it together. CPBC would like to acknowledge and thank the following:

• H.E. Mr.David Collins  High-Commissioner for Canada
• H.E. Mr.Shahid Malik              High-Commissioner for Pakistan
• Mr. Ghalib Iqbal                       Consul General of Pakistan
• Mr. Michael Clark                    Senior Trade Commissioner, CDN H. C.       
• Mr. Khalid Awan                     Chairman, TCS Express
• Mr. S. M. Muneer                    Chairman, Din Group
• Mr. Samir Dossal                     Director, CPBC
• Mr. Ali Leghari             Senior Executive, TCS Express
• Mr. Talat Miyan                       Secretary, Board of Investment
• Mr. Arif Elahi                           Director General, Board of Investment
• Mr. Ahsan Ul-Haq                   Senior Commercial Officer, CDN H.C.
• Ms. Asma Farooq                    Trade Commissioner, CDN H.C.
• Mr. Azhar Kirmani                   Commercial Officer, CDN H.C.
• Mr. Naiyer Jamal                      Country Manager, PIA Canada
• Ms. Jo-Anne Ondrus                Sales Officer, PIA Canada

CPBC would also like to thank all our hosts and patrons for organizing lunches, receptions and dinners, and for the courtesy and hospitality extended to the delegates.

 Below is a list of the participants.

• Bernard (Bud) Burkom, V.P. CIBC Woodgundy, the 3rd largest bank of Canada. 
   
•  Binni Rana, Director, International Marketing, Eckler Partners, an international consulting company with over 250 employees worldwide.
  
• Imtiaz Seyid, V.P. RBC, the largest bank of Canada. 
  
• Lin Armstrong Sharwood, V.P. Mobile Cube, (a water purification company, affiliated with Xenon, a subsidiary of GE).
  
•  Gordon Sharwood, Chairman of Spire Sharwood Financial Inc., a Venture Capital and investment company. 
  
•  Habib Syed, President, Azim Pak Canada, (Consulting) representing several Quebec companies such as RSW and AXOR (Windmill project).
  
•  Anwar (Andy) Merchant, President CPBC, leader of the delegation.
  
• Fred Roberts,President, Kingsgate Wealth Management, (affiliated with Industrial Alliance of Quebec, the fifth largest insurance company of Canada).
  
• Ron Caicco,President, Direct Energy, an Engineering company, catering to heating & air conditioning projects. Serves residential as well as commercial and contract markets.
  
•  Shirley Townsend, Director, south Asia, Ministry of Economics & Developments, Province of Ontario.
  
•  Eric Alexander, President, Ozoklean, a water purification company of Canada which will soon start a manufacturing facility in Jabal Ali Free zone, Dubai, to service South Asia under a World Bank project. He is also involved in construction projects.

Andy Merchant and HE David Collins meeting with the Prime Minister of Pakistan
Mr. Shaukat Aziz, at the prime minister's house in Islamabad

Members of the delegation with Chief Minister of Sindh Dr. Arbab Ghulam Rahim

The participants were received very well by high officials of the Government of Pakistan, the policy and decision makers as well as leading business persons. The delegates were informed about the current economic and political situations as well as the investment opportunities. They had frank discussions about the law and order situation, the risk factors, and the sovereign guarantees for the repatriation of the capital and profits. During the meeting with the Prime Minister and other Ministers, Andy Merchant highlighted the unfortunate image problem that Pakistan faces in the Western World. He suggested that high-powered delegations comprising of key Ministers frequently visit Canada and other Western countries to raise awareness and eliminate any misconceptions and inform of the success stories as well as the investments coming into the country. He also offered the support of Canada-Pakistan Business Council for any such official visit to Canada. The Council has agreements with Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters, the largest business body of Canada, comprising of 3500 members, coast to coast. Moreover, the Council will soon be entering into another agreement with CATA (Canadian Advanced Technology Association), which has more than twenty thousand members.

The delegates were very pleased to see and hear that the country is heading in the right direction. One participant has already entered into a joint venture in the water purification project and another will be signing soon. The windmill power project is almost a done deal, awaiting the completion of some formalities. Projects in the financial sector are very encouraging and the interested parties are currently doing their due diligence. As a result of their successful visit, some of the participants have decided to go back in January on a follow up trip.

Below is the itinerary with the details of the Mission’s activities and meetings

Write-up approved by:

Andy Merchant
President