ISLAMABAD: Minister of Commerce & Industry, Dr. Gohar Ejaz, is set to embark on a crucial trade mission to China from December 10, 2023, accompanied by a distinguished business delegation. This visit follows Prime Minister Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar’s October visit earlier this year, reinforcing the strong bilateral ties between Pakistan and China.
The sectors covered in the delegation’s agenda are diverse, including Agriculture, Electronic Vehicles, Marble, Cement, Fertilizer, Fruit & Vegetable, Home Appliances, Glass, Chemicals, and Textiles. This multi-segmental delegation aims to foster trade, attract investments, and explore opportunities for joint ventures through high-level meetings with their Chinese counterparts.
The official itinerary includes key engagements in Beijing, where the delegation will meet with officials from the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, various product associations, and the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export. Minister Ejaz is scheduled to meet with the CEO of COFCO Group, Asia’s leading agribusiness and China’s largest food processor. Additionally, discussions with the Weifang Steel Group, specialized in agritech, food processing, fertilizers, and edible oil, are expected to pave the way for collaborative ventures.
As part of the visit, the delegation will explore Zhongguancun, China’s Silicon Valley, near Beijing, underscoring the importance of technological collaboration between the two nations.
In a groundbreaking move, Minister Ejaz will also visit Suzhou City, a prominent commercial and industrial hub in East China. This marks the first visit by any Commerce Minister of Pakistan to Suzhou City. The visit is aligned with the Ministry of Commerce’s strategy to engage with major Chinese manufacturing hubs at the provincial level. Suzhou boasts a GDP exceeding US$ 300 billion, with significant potential for collaboration in various sectors.
Addressing the media before departure, Minister Ejaz stressed the significance of private sector collaboration to further strengthen the Pak-China relationship. He emphasized the pivotal role of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Pakistan’s prosperity and progress. Minister Ejaz reiterated the importance of developing Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and highlighted the crucial role of Gwadar Port, underscoring its strategic significance.
The Commerce Minister is scheduled to participate in a Business Networking Dinner, expected to draw over a hundred Chinese enterprises. This will be followed by his online participation in the Min-Ministerial of the World Trade Organization (WTO) on special invitation from the UAE Commerce Minister.
The visit aims to enhance economic ties, encourage investments, and lay the groundwork for future collaborations between Pakistan and China. Minister Ejaz expressed his commitment to briefing Chinese investors on the crucial role of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) in streamlining investments, with a focus on key sectors such as agriculture, mining, new energy, and IT under the SIFC framework.
