KARACHI – Investors should forget India and instead profit from the “quiet rise” of Pakistan along with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, Barron’s Asia said.
“Forget India. Investors looking for the next big thing should look to its South Asia neighbours instead,” the American financial magazine said in an article.
In an article, America’s financial magazine advised investors where profit is to be had through stock investments.
It pitched Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh as the places to be, saying the trio is enjoying fast-paced growth, embracing reforms and look set to enjoy a demographic dividend over the long term.
According to the article, the three countries with a combined 390 million people represent what Morgan Stanley chief global strategist Ruchir Sharma calls “the quiet rise of South Asia” as opposed to India which has been “flattered by spasms of hype for years”.
“A substantially higher economic growth rate than in many other economies globally, coupled with fantastic demographics that will continue supporting growth for many years ahead,” East Capital fund manager Adrian Pop told Barron’s Asia.
The article says the trio is enjoying fast-paced growth embracing much needed reforms, and look set to enjoy a demographic dividend over the long term.
The article mentions that Pakistan is the flag-bearer of positive changes taking place in the South Asian nations.
It added that inflation is under control, budget deficit has been reduced, and more importantly terrorism appears to be on the back-foot given more assertive action by the army.
Chinese investment has also poured in, with 50 billion to be spent on new roads, transport links and energy projects.
“More power capacity is key for Pakistan to move to an even higher economic growth rate,” said Pop.
In December the Pakistan Stock Exchange sold 40 percent of its shares to a consortium of Chinese investors. The Karachi stock index is up by about 50 percent since the start of last year, propelled by index compiler MSCI’s decision to bump up the country to emerging markets status.
