U.S. Embassy press release, April 16, 2009.

A high-powered delegation of Pakistani entrepreneurs will visit New York and Washington, D.C., from April 22-24, 2009. In New York the delegation will be hosted by the Business Council for International Understanding (BCIU) and in Washington, the group will meet with officials from the U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. EximBank, and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC); they will also do a round of Capitol Hill.

The Pakistani entrepreneurs will also be meeting with U.S. business leaders to discuss possible joint ventures and equity participation in upcoming projects in Pakistan. The following leading business leaders will be representing Pakistan in this program: Mr. Javed Saifullah Khan, Chairman, Saif Group of Companies; Mr. Iqbal Z. Ahmed, Chairman, Associated Group; Mr. Shaukat Elahi Sheikh, Managing Director, Nagina Group; Mr. Shahid Abdullah, CEO, Sapphire Group; Ms. Hena Babar Ali, Group Brand Manager, Packages Ltd.; Mr. Hussain Dawood, Chairman, Dawood Group; Mr. Asad Umar, President & CEO, Engro Chemicals; Ms. Sajida Zulfiqar, CEO, Pearl Furniture; and Mr. Shah Faisal, CEO, Ruba Group.

It may be noted that the United States is the leading trading partner of Pakistan. In 2008 the United States imported goods worth $3.59 billion from Pakistan and exported goods worth $1.99 billion to Pakistan. During this period Pakistan’s leading exports to the U.S. were in the apparel, bedwear and towel product categories. The single largest U.S. export to Pakistan comprised civilian aircraft and related parts.

Presently, the United States is the single largest market for Pakistani exports accounting for more than 25 percent of Pakistan’s exports, whereas U.S. exports to Pakistan account for approximately 7 percent of the country’s imports.

U.S. Ambassador Anne W. Patterson, accompanied by Mr. Will Center, Commercial Counselor, U.S. Embassy, Islamabad, and Mr. Saleem Mandviwalla, Chairman, Board of Investment, Government of Pakistan, will lead this delegation.

See the original article here.