ISLAMABAD: A high powered Chinese delegation led by Huang Zhigang, Secretary General, Communist Party No.13 Division of Xijiang region visited Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry and showed interest for joint ventures and investment in Pakistan. The delegation was comprised of government officials and owners of some big private enterprises of Xijiang region.
Speaking at the occasion, Huang Zhigang said that after 30 years of economic reforms in China, Chinese entrepreneurs have good experience of developing an economy on modern lines and they wanted to contribute for economic development of Pakistan by exploring JVs and investment as Pakistan as good potential to grow as a strong economy. He said 10,000 Chinese nationals of Xijiang region had participated in the construction of Karakoram Highway which was the friendship channel between both countries. Some Chinese had even lost their lives in this great project which showed the commitment of China to cooperate with Pakistan to strengthen its economy.
He said Xijiang region delegation was interested in starting a new chapter of cooperation with Pakistan by exploring new projects and partnerships here. He said Northern part of Pakistan was of particular interest for investors of Xijiang region which was nearest to it and offered good prospects for collaboration between the two countries. He was hopeful that CPEC would create many avenues of business partnerships between both countries and they have come here to see how they could realize these objectives. He invited ICCI delegation to visit Xijiang region to explore new prospects of mutual cooperation.
In his welcome address, Atif Ikram Sheikh, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that Pakistan and China have great potential to strengthen relations in multiple fields and stressed that private sectors of both countries should be given the leading role to exploit all untapped areas of mutual cooperation. He said economy of Pakistan was showing positive signs and apart from CPEC projects, Chinese investors should also explore other sectors of Pakistan’s economy for business interests. He said China was importing lot of raw marble from Pakistan and it should setup modern quarries in Pakistan to produce value added marble products.
He said increased interest of Chinese investors in Pakistan’s economy was encouraging as it was sending positive signals to other foreign investors. He assured that ICCI would provide all possible help to Chinese businessmen in finding out business opportunities in Pakistan and added that ICCI would consider taking a delegation to Xijiang region as frequent exchange of trade missions was the best tool to explore new areas for promoting bilateral trade and economic relations. Sheikh Pervez Ahmed Senior Vice President and Sheikh Abdul Waheed Vice President ICCI also apprised the delegation about the benefits of investing in Pakistan.