OUR STAFF REPORTER LAHORE - Turkish-Pak Business Council (TPBC) Chairman Huseyin Akin has said that foreign direct investment would get a considerable boost soon as a number of Turkish companies are working out sector-specific investments through joint ventures with their Pakistani counterparts. The Chairman TPBC was speaking at a business forum jointly organized by Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Punjab Board of Investment and Trade (PBIT) on Friday. LCCI President Shahzad Ali Malik, Senior Vice President Sheikh Mohammad Arshad, Vice President Sohail Azhar, Honorary Consul General of Turkey in Pakistan Mian Tajammal Hussain, CEO PBIT Saadat Muzaffar and former LCCI President Mohsin Raza Bukhari, former Senior Vice President Abdul Basit also spoke on the occasion. The TPBC Chairman, who was heading a 13-member strong business delegation, said that growing Punjab GDP and an attractive business atmosphere present a great case for Turkish corporations to make investment in this country. He said that the high profile visits in recent past from Pakistan give further motivation to Turkish businessmen towards their commitment to do business in Pakistan. He said that Turkish-Pakistan Business Council was actively involved in developing business relations between Pakistan and Turkey and TPBC would continue to be the main driver of further enhancement in bilateral relations. He hoped that concrete business agreements would be signed during their visit to Pakistan. LCCI President Shahzad Ali Malik, while appreciating Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif for accelerating the two-way interaction, sought Turkish cooperation to overcome energy shortage in Pakistan. He said energy was an important issue for Pakistans economic growth and Turkey has vast experience of exploiting hydro and other energy sources. The LCCI President said that there is a huge potential to enhance two-way trade as the existing bilateral trade volume is just tip of the iceberg. The amount of our two way trade itself speaks to a great volume as it has been averaging around US$ 600 millions from the last four years. Moreover, he said, the share of Pakistans exports to Turkey is just 2.3% of our total exports and Pakistans imports from Turkey account for only 0.5% of the total imports bill. Shahzad Ali Malik said although the balance of trade has been in favour of Pakistan but in true sense, this favour is not drawing many benefits to both the countries. He said that bilateral arrangements and early implementation of regional trade agreements is the need of the hour. Giving a detailed presentation on available business opportunities in Punjab, the CEO PBIT Saadat Muzaffar reiterated to keep enhancing the immense trade potential between the two countries. He provided key sectoral information to the Turkish delegation in the relevant areas of Livestock, Construction and Energy. The CEO PBIT said that Turkish delegations visit would help build a strong business linkage between prominent Turkish companies and Pakistan based stakeholders.