Launches Pak-China Business Investment Forum: Nong Rong says CPEC to bringing progress, prosperity to Pakistan
ISLAMABAD
Prime Minister Imran Khan launched Pak-China Business Investment Forum on Monday to promote business-to-business (B2B) cooperation, saying the government has been taking steps to remove hurdles in the process of investment.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony, the prime minister said that investors are being fully facilitated in Pakistan, as the country’s development is linked with industrial development and promotion of exports. The prime minister said that wealth creation of a country is impossible without industrial development while exports increase supplements such efforts. He opined that in Pakistan, focus on industrialisation had never been made a priority in the past. He regretted that during the 60s, Pakistan was moving towards industrialisation but a nationalisation process choked the progress.
He said that different small countries in the world have increased their export capacities. He said the government has provided incentives to the IT sector and within two years, its exports have been doubled.
Referring to China and Turkey, the prime minister observed that they made strides by enhancing their industrial and export capabilities. Turkey overcame its trade deficit with an increase in exports which also raised its GDP, he added.
He expressed the confidence that the establishment of the forum will enhance ease of doing business between the Chinese and Pakistani companies. Terming the launch of the forum as a special occasion, he said it will help the government get feedback over investment and trade issues and overcome the bottlenecks with provision of incentives.
He observed that the investment process is time-consuming whereas time is precious for an investor. The prime minister assured that the government and the Board of Investment are making full efforts to eliminate the blockages in this process and facilitate Chinese investment.
The prime minister expressed the confidence that there would be more focus on agriculture productivity in the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). He also stressed that they would have to learn from Chinese urban planning. He said the rapid urbanisation brought with it two issues concerning the food security and environmental pollution and cited cities of Islamabad and Lahore where population has surged manifold.
Speaking on the occasion, Chinese Ambassador Nong Rong said that CPEC will be a game-changer for Pakistan, bringing unprecedented progress and prosperity to the country.
He said that the second phase of CPEC would focus on industrial and social cooperation. Through this forum Pakistani and Chinese companies would have enhanced bilateral cooperation and relations, the ambassador said. He said that with the innovative forum, more business opportunities between the two countries will emerge.
He said that various development projects under CPEC projects are underway including special economic zones and Gwadar free zone. The ambassador said the Chinese side is working closely with the Pakistani side to achieve the shared targets aimed at building future cooperation.
Pak-China Business Investment Forum is formed in collaboration with Pakistan Board of Investment (BOI) and All Pakistan Chinese Enterprises Association with the objectives to promote investment by the Chinese companies in Pakistan and enhance business to business industrial cooperation. TLTP
