Charting New Business Horizons: Gwadar Expo 2018 Unveiled
Pakistani and Chinese investors are filled with optimism at the inaugural global exhibition held in Gwadar City, anticipating that Gwadar Expo 2018 will pave the way for new business opportunities.
Pakistani and Chinese investors are filled with optimism at the inaugural global exhibition held in Gwadar City, anticipating that Gwadar Expo 2018 will pave the way for new business opportunities.
With more than 100 companies participating, this two-day event is a collaborative effort between the China Ports Holding Company (COPHC) and the Gwadar Port Authority (GPA) at the newly established Gwadar Free Zone.
Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi officially launched the expo and the first phase of the Gwadar Free Zone, a pivotal component of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The ceremony attracted representatives from the Chinese government and neighboring regions.
The primary objective of this conference and exhibition, spanning two days, is to serve as a platform for Pakistani and Chinese entrepreneurs who are already engaged in CPEC-related ventures.
Spanning 60 acres, the industrial park also features a Business Center offering streamlined services, including immigration, customs, visa operations, and port clearance facilities.
Among the exhibitors are noteworthy names like the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Limited (ICBC), China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), Bank of China Ltd Pakistan Operations, Yulin Holdings, Amreli Steels, Lucky Cement, Habib Bank Limited, and various small and medium-sized enterprises.
Jack Zhao Jiaquan, the representative of the largest Chinese bank, ICBC, emphasized their ongoing provision of financial services to CPEC projects and expressed an interest in further collaboration with local firms.
Participants unanimously believed that this event would position the coastal city as a burgeoning business center, fostering interaction among local, regional, and international business entrepreneurs.
Faisal Idrees of AM Developers praised the exhibition as a historic step in the right direction, noting the influx of foreign delegates and its potential to change perceptions about the previously overlooked province. He even suggested that Gwadar could be declared the safest city.
Amreli Steels, a major Pakistani steel producer, is already engaged in multiple CPEC projects and is keen to expand its network with Chinese companies.
Nagman Saim, a representative of Gwadar Fish Factory, acknowledged their seafood exports to various Chinese cities but believed there's immense untapped potential in international markets.
CCCC-FHDI Engineering Co., a subsidiary of CCCC responsible for Gwadar's port and industrial zone, is determined to enhance the local community's quality of life, as highlighted by Li Tinghui of FHDI, the company working on Gwadar Smart Port City Master Plan.
P.c. The News International
Agreements Inked
Several agreements and a Memorandum of Understanding were signed to strengthen collaboration between Gwadar and Chinese port cities.
1. Agreements were formalized to establish sister port relationships between Pakistan's Gwadar and China's Tianjin, as well as Gwadar and Piung, designating them as sister cities.
2. Another agreement aimed to foster close cooperation among Pakistan State Oil (PSO), GITL, and Gwadar.
3. The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan and China's Free Trade Zone Company solidified an agreement to collaborate in their respective fields.
4. An additional agreement was signed between Gwadar and HATA Trade City.
5. The Memorandum of Understanding on Gwadar Poverty Alleviation Initiative was executed between the Gwadar district government and China Overseas Ports Holding Company.