Malaysian investors urged to become part of CPEC framework

ISLAMABAD: Malaysian High Commissioner to Pakistan Ikram

Mohammad Ibrahim has urged his country’s business community to seize the investment
opportunities offered by Pakistan, especially within the China-Pakistan
Economic Corridor (CPEC) framework.

“CPEC brings a great opportunity for Malaysian businessmen

to look into, and penetrate, the Pakistani market,” Ikram stated while speaking
at the Pakistan-Malaysia Business Opportunities Conference (BOC) in Kaula
Lumpur on Monday. “The corridor includes road and railway networks that would
stretch from the western Chinese city of Kashgar in China’s Xinjiang province
to Pakistan’s second-largest port of Gwadar,” he informed.

The envoy noted that following the exchange of

visits between the heads of states of Pakistan and Malaysia, the countries were
now moving to a greater level of partnership and cooperation.

He urged the Malaysia-Pakistan Business Council

(MALPAK) to play its due role in arranging business-to-business meetings between
the business communities of the two countries.

The BOC comprised of more than 300

participants, including about 150 Malaysian companies, representing various
sectors including tourism, pharmaceutical, chemical, plastic, textile, surgical
goods, furniture and construction.

Pakistan’s Charge d’Affaires to Malaysia Atif

Sharif Mian said on the occasion that CPEC would continue to create more opportunities
for joint investments in the future.

“In Pakistan’s context, the project is a $40-50

billion investment and it is going to upgrade all the infrastructures as well
as across other (sectors of) Pakistan’s economy. It is a massive corridor and will
definitely bring in more traffic for investments,” he said. “Malaysia is
globally known for providing quality services and expertise on railways,
roadways and construction; the country should look to invest in these areas.”

Atif Sharif Mian said the focus of the BOC was to

promote and engage the private sectors of both countries.

“Although the governments have resolved to enhance

bilateral trade ties, it is the private sectors that will need to form close
liaison in order to avail the investment opportunities,” he said.