ISLAMABAD, Oct 3: Major buying-houses and investors from the United States and manufacturers and exporters from Pakistan will meet in London on Thursday during the ‘2012 US-Pakistan Business Opportunities Conference’ to discuss measures to enhance trade and investment ties between the two countries.

Officials said that over 100 investors and exporters from the two countries will participate in the two-day conference which is being organised jointly by the Board of Investment (BoI), Ministry of Commerce and the US trade representative in the office of US president.

BoI chairman Saleem H. Mandviwalla is leading the Pakistan delegation which also includes Secretary Commerce Munir Qureshi and Pakistan Ambassador to the United States Sherry Rehman. The US delegation will be led by Deputy US Trade Representative Demetrios Marantis and includes Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Danial Feldman.

US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Ambassador Marc Grossman has been specially invited to speak on the US-Pakistan relations.

Representatives of the World Bank, ADB, US Export-Import Bank, US Trade and Development Agency and US Overseas Private Investment Corporation will also participate in the event.

Officials of Ministry of Commerce and BoI believe that the London conference will help to enhance and strengthen liaison between key market players of the two countries.

While elaborating the business opportunities in the country including liberal investment policy, fiscal incentives and particularly the special economic zones, the Pakistan delegation will highlight opportunities for US investors in power generation, infrastructure projects like mass transit systems in major cities, construction sector since the country faces a shortfall of 7.90 million houses and the need for low-cost housing.