DLP Report
PESHAWAR
Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah has said that massive Chinese investment was expected to flow into Pakistan and the provincial government was making all-out efforts to ensure that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa secures the maximum possible share of it.
He said the province offered immense opportunities for foreign investment and that the government was providing a conducive environment for local industrialists by promoting business-to-business collaboration with Chinese investors.
The chief secretary expressed these views while addressing, through video link, an Investment Conference organised by the Planning and Development Department KP to promote business-to-business engagement between local industrialists and Chinese investors.
The conference was attended by officials of relevant government departments and autonomous bodies, representatives of the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, trade organisations, investors, businessmen and foreign investors.
Mr Shah said the business ideas presented during the conference would formally be shared with Chinese investors through the federal government for potential investment opportunities. He thanked the participants for their active participation and useful proposals, adding that their recommendations would help attract maximum Chinese investment to the province.
He said the conference was only the beginning and that consultation and interaction with the business community and industrialists would continue in future as well.
During the conference, officials briefed participants on the objectives and targets of the initiative. They said the conference had been organised in the context of the business-to-business investment conference held in Beijing last year between Pakistani and Chinese investors.
Officials informed participants that the objective of the initiative was to identify business ideas and investment proposals in key sectors for collaboration with Chinese investors. According to the briefing, the provincial government had identified six priority sectors, including agriculture, industry, livestock, minerals, forestry and information technology.
Participants were informed that local businessmen could submit proposals relating to either the establishment of new businesses or expansion of existing enterprises to attract Chinese investment through business partnerships.
Officials said the provincial government would compile these proposals into a comprehensive pitch book and forward it to the federal government for presentation to Chinese investors during the expected upcoming visit of the Prime Minister of Pakistan to China.
The participants were also informed that the provincial government had devised a formal action plan to operationalise cooperation between local and Chinese investors. Under the initiative, industrialists would be provided facilities through a one-window operation, including support in regulatory procedures, provision of plots in industrial zones and other incentives.
Officials further said the government would encourage exports of value-added products instead of raw materials and extend support to local exporters in this regard. They added that the initiative would boost industrial activity, generate foreign exchange and create employment opportunities in the province.
Participants termed the conference a positive initiative for attracting foreign investment and appreciated the role of the Planning and Development Department in promoting investment and industrial growth in the province.
