Pakistan, China hold productive meetings on BRF sidelines
Islamabad: Federal Commerce Minister Dr Gohar Ijaz has successfully concluded a series of highly productive meetings with prominent business leaders and investment groups from China on the sidelines of the 3rd Belt and Road Forum (BRF) in Beijing.
The primary objective of these meetings was to fortify economic ties between Pakistan and China while exploring a multitude of investment opportunities within Pakistan, as indicated by an official statement released on Saturday afternoon.
Dr Gohar Ejaz held discussions with Wang Zihai, who serves as the Director of the China-Pakistan (Qingdao) International Cooperation Hub.
The conversations revolved around investment prospects in Pakistan, including Civilian and Defense equipment, EV Lithium Batteries, Solar Panels, and Semiconductors. The significance of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) in facilitating these opportunities was a pivotal point of discussion.
During a meeting with Li Yiman, Chairperson of Eman Logistics, the focus shifted towards expanding Pakistan’s presence on Chinese digital platforms. Eman Logistics is planning to launch “Pakistan National Pavilion” display centers in China, demonstrating a commitment to digital diplomacy. The Minister pledged full support and facilitation for this initiative.
Dr Ejaz also engaged with Jin Weidong, President of Wellhope, a prominent Chinese agri-producer. The Minister emphasized the substantial opportunities within Pakistan’s agricultural, poultry, and meat sectors. Wellhope’s global leadership in smart farming and meat processing could pave the way for a mutually beneficial partnership.
Dr Ijaz also met with Wang Guidong of Donghua Group, with a particular emphasis on the privatization of Pakistan Steel Mills and the government’s dedication to this process. The establishment of SIFC is expected to bolster these efforts, and comprehensive facilitation for this partnership was assured.
A productive working lunch was held with representatives from MCC, China’s metallurgy giant, a significant player in the Saindak Copper-Gold Project. The discussions revolved around expanding collaboration and leveraging MCC’s expertise to promote partnership growth.
Furthermore, the minister visited COFCO, a prominent global food procurement agency, to explore possibilities for enhancing Pakistan’s grains and food exports to China.
Dr Gohar Ejaz invited them to establish their regional office in Pakistan, creating a hub for its global value chain and storage network with support from SIFC. He also urged COFCO to create a Joint Working Group involving COFCO, Pakistani businessmen, and the Ministry of Commerce.
He engaged with several other notable Chinese enterprises and organizations, including Shandong Xinxu Group, ADM Group, China National Agriculture Development, China National Fisheries Corp, Tianjin Meat Association, and CNAGS.
These discussions encompassed collaboration in diverse sectors, such as mining, trade, hospitality, construction, EV infrastructure, agriculture, and rice sourcing. Dr. Ejaz underscored Pakistan’s commitment to meeting China’s export standards and pledged a rapid processing plant setup if exports to China receive approval.
In a separate meeting with BYD, a global leader in electric vehicles (EVs), the focus was on investment opportunities in Pakistan and the government’s supportive policies, including the role of SIFC.
These meetings with business leaders underscore Pakistan’s dedication to fostering economic cooperation and development with China.
