Chinese experts and investors are visiting Pakistan to look out for new trade avenues and to explore investment opportunities in Special Economic Industrial Zones (SEZs) in four provinces of the country.
The delegation of Chinese experts, headed by China International Engineering Consultant Corporation (CIECC) Du Zhenli would hold the workshop and meetings in different cities including Karachi, Lahore and Peshawar till October 18, for reviewing and negotiating on future investment opportunities in Pakistan, Board of Investment (BOI) spokesman Shahjehan Shah said.
The experts would discuss and give detailed briefing on the successful models of economic zones in China besides sharing their expertise with representatives of provincial government officials, he said.
He said the visit of Chinese experts was significant as they would determine potential for becoming SEZs and Priority Special Economic Zone (PSEZ). Chinese were investing $62 billion in CPEC infrastructure and power, he added.
He said in wake of the decisions taken during 6th JCC meeting held in Beijing in December, 2016, a delegation of Chinese experts was visiting Pakistan to conduct trainings and workshops in context of SEZs from October 11-18.
These workshops were being organised by Board of Investment (BoI), he added. He said the CIECC was a state-owned consulting firm that would carry the final recommendations from its meetings in Pakistan back to the National Development Reform Commission (NDRC) in Beijing.
The BOI spokesman said the first round of consultations with provincial authorities began in Karachi.
Replying to a question, he said the Chinese delegation come to “share the experience of development of industrial parks” with local counterparts in Pakistan.
Shahjehan said the team of Chinese experts visited Dhabeji Special Economic Zone on October 13 which was high on the agenda of Pakistan and China to make it a part of the multi-billion dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
He said the zone would be developed over an area of 1,000 acres having strategic importance of close to seaport, airport and road and rail network. He said the expressions of interest came from investors in different areas including steel, cement, chemicals, garments, logistics and pharmaceuticals.
