ISLAMABAD: A delegation of Kashgar Chamber of Commerce and Industry of China visited Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) led by Kashgar Economic Information Bureau Director General Huang Li Dong here on Friday 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 said that they have come to Pakistan to explore its market and after visiting Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad and they have found that there were lots of business opportunities for Chinese investors in Pakistan.
He said that regular interactions between private sectors of both countries were important to exploit all untapped areas of mutual cooperation. He said that 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 (OBOR) which would 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 and gas pipelines and would make Baluchistan and Kashgar hubs of regional trade and economic activities. He said that 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 realisation.
He also briefed the Kashgar delegation about investment opportunities in various sectors of Pakistan’s economy. He said that energy, infrastructure development, construction, oil and gas exploration, gems and 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 would 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.
