ISLAMABAD: A delegation of Kashgar Chamber of Commerce and Industry of China visited Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI) led by Huang Li Dong, Director General, Kashgar Economic Information Bureau to explore opportunities of business collaborations. The delegation was representing various sectors including automobile, steel, industrial machinery, international trading, wood industry, building materials, water conservation and agriculture development.
Speaking at the occasion, Huang Li Dong, Director General, Kashgar Economic Information Bureau said that they have come to Pakistan to explore its market and after visiting Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad, they have found that there were lot of business opportunities for Chinese investors in Pakistan. He said regular interactions between private sectors of both countries were important to exploit all untapped areas of mutual cooperation.
He said Silk Route was a historic trade route and China has now revived this ancient route by undertaking massive infrastructure projects under One Belt One Road which will have tremendous beneficial economic impact on Pakistan and other countries on its roadmap. Both Chambers agreed to cooperate for facilitating regular exchange of trade delegations for exploring new avenues of mutual cooperation.
In his welcome address, ICCI President Khalid Iqbal Malik said that China was Pakistan’s largest trading partner and bilateral trade of around US$ 19 billion between the two countries was quite encouraging. He said that CPEC would connect Gawadar Port with Kashgar through a network of roads, railways and oil & gas pipelines and would make Baluchistan and Kashgar hubs of regional trade and economic activities. He said CPEC will also provide China easy access to Middle East, Africa and West. He urged that Chinese investors and companies should explore maximum investment opportunities in this historic project for its timely realization.
He also briefed the Kashgar delegation about investment opportunities in various sectors of Pakistan’s economy. He said energy, infrastructure development, construction, oil & gas exploration, gems & jewellery, minerals, marble, poultry, pharma, information technology, wood industry and many other sectors offered great investment potential to Chinese investors and they should step up efforts to explore possibilities of joint ventures and putting up industrial units in Pakistan. He said direct flights should be started between Islamabad and Kashgar that will help in improving trade relations.
ICCI Senior Vice President Khalid Malik, Vice President Tahir Ayub, former Presidents Khalid Javed, Zubair Ahmed Malik, Zafar Bakhtawari, Mian Akram Farid, Mian Shaukat Masud, Muzzamil Sabri, Council member Nasir Qureshi and others were also present at the occasion.
