China-Pakistan Industrial Expo begins

LAHORE: The fifth edition of the China-Pakistan Industrial Expo 2021 started at the Royal Palm Golf and Country Club.

Additional secretary/executive director general of the Board of Investment (BoI), Khashih ur Rehman, inaugurated the event, which would conclude on Sunday.

More than 100 Chinese companies are participating in the event both physically and online.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony, Rehman said that Pakistan and China have managed to sustain a healthy economic and investment partnership during the pandemic.

“It is now high time to join hands for [the] much-needed economic and investment boost. The event is the best platform to bring businesses from both the countries together for rejuvenation of bilateral investment cooperation,” he added.

The second phase of CPEC mainly focused on people-to-people and business-to-business (B2B) cooperation, he said and expressed the hope that the event would play a pivotal role in achieving the goals of the second phase of CPEC.

Pakistan-China business-to-business (B2B) Investment Portal would enable the matchmaking prospects of Chinese, local and third-party investors, he said.

Asim Ayub, project director of CPEC-Industrial Cooperation, Xiang Zhiqiang; deputy director of China-Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Wang Zihai; executive director of Pakistan-China Centre, Badar uz Zaman; commercial counsellor of the Embassy of Pakistan in China, Peng Zhengwu; acting consul general of the People’s Republic of China in Lahore, Xu Daqun; director of foreign trade of the Department of Commerce of Henan province, Ren Weijun; director of the Foreign Exchange and Cooperation Department, and representatives of the local chambers attended the inaugural ceremony.

Separate breakout rooms have been set up for effective interaction and meaningful participation of investors from Shandong and Henan provinces.

Zihai appreciated the role of the Board of Investment and said that the event was a unique opportunity to showcase the Chinese projects.

Zaman said that there was potential to steer the nation towards an industrialised future.