ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN (June 9, 2004) – U.S. commercial involvement in fostering Pakistan’s development was the focus of a meeting this week between Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf and senior U.S. Government officials from three agencies on a business development mission that concluded today.  Deputy Director Barbara R. Bradford represented the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) on the visit.

“USTDA is committed to working with strong partners to promote Pakistan’s growth,” said USTDA Deputy Director Bradford at the conclusion of this week’s visit.  “This mission has increased awareness about the availability of USTDA’s programs to assist Pakistan in furthering its development.  We look forward to building on the strength of our program in Pakistan in the future.”

Other participants in the inter-agency visit included Vice Chair and First Vice President of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) April H. Foley and Vice President for Insurance at the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) Michael T. Lempres.

In addition to the meeting with President Musharraf, the U.S. delegation met with officials from Pakistan’s Ministries of Finance and Economic Affairs, Commerce, Investment and Privatization, Communications, Water and Power Development, and Information Technology and Telecommunications.  Additional meetings took place with representatives of the Board of Investment, Petroleum and Natural Resources, the Private Power and Infrastructure Board, Pakistan Railways, Pakistan Telecommunications Authority, and Pakistan’s Customs Authority.  In all of the meetings, Deputy Director Bradford stressed USTDA’s interest in expanding the agency’s role in assisting Pakistan’s development.

The U.S. Trade and Development Agency advances economic development and U.S. commercial interests in developing and middle-income countries.  The agency funds various forms of technical assistance, feasibility studies, training, orientation visits and business workshops that support the development of a modern infrastructure and a fair and open trading environment.  USTDA’s strategic use of foreign assistance funds to support sound investment policy and decision-making in host countries creates an enabling environment for trade, investment and sustainable economic development.  In carrying out its mission, USTDA gives emphasis to economic sectors that may benefit from U.S. exports of goods and services.

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