Turkish investment: Punjab signs MoU on capacity building

[Salman]

LAHORE: A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed by the government and Turk Cooperation and Coordination Agency on Sunday for increased bilateral cooperation in vocational training, preservation of archaeological sites, capacity-building of Red Crescent and strengthening of the housing sector.
Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Minister for Housing Tanvir Aslam Malik, Lahore Transport Company Chairman Khawaja Ahmad Hassaan, Turkish Ambassador Babur Girgin, the housing secretary and Lahore Development Authority director general were present on the occasion.
Under the agreement, the TCCA will extend technical assistance in vocational training in garments, construction and automobile sectors.
The Turkish agency will also help prepare syllabi for schools, train trainers and provide training equipment.
The government and the agency will also exchange experts delegations in archaeology.
The Turkish agency will also extend assistance in the protection of archaeological sites and train the staff of Archaeology Department.
The government and the agency also agreed to improve coordination between Red Crescent societies of Pakistan and Turkey.
The pilot project will be launched from the Punjab.
The TCCA will also provide technical assistance for launching housing projects for low income groups.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif welcomed the agreement.
He said the Turkish companies had invested billions of dollars in various projects in the province.
He said the growing cooperation between the government and Turkish companies would bring the two countries closer.
Ambassador Girgin said collaboration between the TCCA and the Punjab government would strengthen friendly ties between Pakistan and Turkey.
Energy cooperation
Later, talking to a delegation of Turkish investors, Sharif said government was working to resolve the energy crisis.
He said there were many opportunities for investment in the energy sector.
He said incentives were being offered to foreign investors to set up energy projects.
The chief minister said several Turkish companies were working on various projects and had invested billions of dollars in the province during the last five years.
He appreciated the cooperation and investment of Turkey in the Metro Bus project, solid waste management and landfill site projects.
He said there was vast scope for investment in tourism and housing sectors in the province.