Over 40 Chinese firms, both state-owned and private, from a variety of sectors participated in a four-hour symposium organised by the Board of Investment (BOI) today in Islamabad in the BOI, PMU Industrial Cooperation Office. Notable potential and present Chinese investors attended and expressed gratitude to the Board of Investment for organising the event.
The seminar’s objective was to solidify the marketing strategy for luring Chinese enterprises to Pakistan using an all-inclusive approach that included essential stakeholders from both the public and commercial sectors. It becomes even more critical for the BOI, as the main agency for industrial cooperation, to strengthen policies relating to investment promotion and facilitation with the goal of increasing Pakistan’s ease of doing business. This exercise is part of the Prime Minister’s Office’s initiative to develop an effective plan for Chinese industry relocation in Pakistan.
Atif R Bokhari, Chairman of the BOI, and Fareena Mazhar, Secretary of the BOI, are personally supervising and coordinating on attempts to recruit Chinese investors.
The seminar’s objective was to develop a marketing plan for luring Chinese enterprises to Pakistan.
Prominent and leading Chinese businesses were asked to express their perspectives on enhancing Pakistan’s economic climate and making it more receptive to Chinese investment. Additionally, it is critical to note that developing an all-encompassing marketing plan will benefit not just existing but also new Chinese enterprises in Pakistan.
The enterprises expressed excitement and elation after being overwhelmed by the BOI’s responsiveness in recognising their experiences in Pakistan. All business-related challenges confronting Chinese firms were examined in minute detail. They were frank in their assessment of the necessary policy actions. Liu Rui, the spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan, also proposed many realistic policy interventions for consideration by Pakistan’s government agencies.
On behalf of BOI, Asim Ayub, Project Director of CPEC Industrial Cooperation, thanked the participants for attending and emphasised that BOI is pursuing high-margin strategies to bring real FDI to Pakistan. The BOI’s Project Management Unit (PMU-CPEC-ICDP), which is solely responsible for facilitating Chinese investors in Pakistan, will make every effort to make it as comfortable as possible for new and existing Chinese enterprises to invest and expand in Pakistan.
The Pakistani Missions in China, including the TIOs, participated in the seminar to provide comments based on their frequent interactions with Chinese investors.
BOI also convened in-depth consultative sessions with Pakistan’s commercial and public sector organisations and groups in the preceding month to debate on developing a system to encourage Chinese industry relocation to Pakistan.