October 22, 2002	Tuesday	Sha’aban 15,1423

BEIJING, Oct 21: Pakistani and Chinese businessmen have entered into several agreements to enhance cooperation in the textile sector. This was stated by Anjum Saleem, chairman, All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) in an interview with APP here on Monday.

Saleem who was visiting China at the head a 25-member trade delegation said they have held very useful discussion with their Chinese counterparts to increase trade.

Pakistan textile manufacturers have imported machinery worth 650 million dollars from China during the last two years. They have decided to buy more machinery taking benefit of the Chinese technology in modernizing the textile industry, he added.

He said the Pakistani traders who attended cotton exhibitions in Beijing and Guangzhou (Canton) have explored new opportunities of cooperation, including setting up joint ventures for promoting textile business.

Pakistan textile, garments and hosiery have already developed good market and business prospects in Europe and the US. The Pakistani business also inclined to expand their contacts to other countries like China, which equally offer good business opportunities.

Anjum Saleem said the Chinese investors will set up a Silk Park for display of its special cloth and its related development technology. For this purpose, Pakistan will allocate special land at its Industrial Zone, probably in Karachi.

He said the Chinese side has expressed its desire to further increase the import of grey cloth and polyester from Pakistan. Currently Pakistan is exporting 65 million square meter grey cloth (cotton fabric) to China.

The chairman, APTMA, further said Pakistan could gain its due share in the Chinese market by enhancing the export of its value-added textile-goods.—APP