QUETTA: China would invest $1.8 billion in nine development projects in Gwadar, including expansion of Gwadar Port and construction of an airport.

Talking to Dawn on Thursday, Gwadar Port Authority (GPA) Chairman Dostain Khan Jamaldani said China had agreed to start implementing these projects soon.

He said five Chinese companies had showed interest in the oil and gas sector and wanted to set up oil refineries in Gwadar, adding that they had approached the GPA for the purpose.

He said the government of Balochistan and the GPA were providing all facilities to Chinese companies for the development of Gwadar port. Foreign companies interested in making investment in Gwadar would be provided maximum incentives, he added.

Mr Jamaldani said that Zeng Qing Song, the chief executive officer of China Overseas Port Holding Company, paid a three-day visit to Gwadar recently during which various issues aimed at making the Gwadar port fully operational were discussed with him.

Giving details of the investment, the Gwadar Port Authority chairman said the Chinese company that had taken over the control of the Gwadar Port would invest $775 million.

He said $1.8 billion would be spent on the expansion of the port and development of Gwadar city.

Construction work on the Ratodero-Gwadar highway would be completed by 2015.

He said Gwadar would prove to be an economic hub of the region generating a large number of jobs and business opportunities.