KARACHI, Nov 24: United Arab Emirates (UAE) is holding first ever largest single country exhibition from Nov 30 to Dec 2 at Karachi Expo centre and over 70 officials and businessmen from different sectors are expected to participate.

UAE consul general Suhail bin Matar Al-Ketbi told newsmen on Thursday that Minister for Foreign Trade Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid bin Sultan Al-Qasimi would be gracing the occasion.

He said that many agreements could be reached during business to business meetings being arranged on the sidelines of the exhibition by the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI).

The envoy said that on the last day (Dec 2) of the exhibition, UAE`s 40th national day would also be celebrated which would also be attended by the Foreign Trade Minister of UAE.

Suhail said that UAE is the second-largest investor in Pakistan with $21 billion investment in key sectors, like energy, telecommunications, real estate, aviation and banking.

Bilateral trade between Pakistan and UAE, he said is touching $9 billion.

He said that the UAE`s entrepreneurs feel that Pakistan holds great opportunities and around 92 companies are expected to participate in the exhibition.

The consul-general appreciated the support being extended to the event by the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), the Ministry of Commerce, the Sindh Government, the Board of Investment (BoI), the CDGK and the FPCCI.

The companies with UAE investment in Pakistan, he said, are sponsoring the exhibition and include Bank AlFalah, Warid, Etihad Airways, KESC, DP World, GiGa Investment, PTCL and Dubai Islamic Bank.

As usual, Suhail said that initially UAE businessmen were reluctant to visit but after convincing them that tremendous business and investment opportunities await for them in Pakistan they agreed to participate in the exhibition.

Suhail bin Matar Al-Ketbi said that already there is huge UAE investment in Pakistan but wants to see it expand and grow and once the entrepreneurs personally witness the ground realities it will further bring both the countries closer.

The representatives of the sponsors also spoke and gave details about their current investment in Pakistan and disclosed some future plans.

Nevertheless, generally they preferred to disclose their plan in the presence of UAE`s minister at the opening ceremony of the exhibition.

However, Giga Investment CEO Mohammad Abdul Rehman Kahout briefly gave details about his company`s plan for setting up auto-parts and machinery plants in Pakistan.

He also said that Giga Investment is working on a plan with the UAE government to allow Pakistanis working in UAE to have ownership rights over residential units.