RAWALPINDI: China’s One Belt, One Road (OBOR) project will benefit Pakistan and the local business community must take advantage of it, trade representatives told a Chinese delegation during its visit to the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) on Saturday.

A 20-member Chinese delegation – led by Song Zhihui, professor and director of the Pakistan Study Centre at Sichuan University – visited the RCCI to explore business opportunities regarding joint ventures and trade partnerships in construction, building materials, agriculture, transportation, furniture and real estate.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Song said the Chinese delegation already visited many chambers of commerce in different cities. He said Chinese entrepreneurs are looking for potential partners in Pakistan to start joint ventures in building material, construction, real estate and related sectors.

This will further strengthen bilateral cooperation between China and Pakistan, he said. “We are happy to see the improved security situation in the country,” he added.

RCCI President Raja Amer Iqbal said the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has opened up new horizons for long-term cooperation between the two countries. It is a golden opportunity for Pakistan to revamp and revive its industrial sector, he added. He said Chinese investors should explore doing joint ventures with their Pakistani counterparts, he said.

Mr Iqbal said many sectors, such as real estate, agriculture, construction, building materials, energy and infrastructure development, offer lucrative investment opportunities to foreign investors. He urged Chinese investors to bring technology and machinery to Pakistan and set up industrial units.

He said the RCCI is ready to help Chinese businessmen hold business-to-business (B2B) meetings in Pakistan.

The delegation included China Building Materials Circulation Association CEO Hi Hongwu, Chengdu Farmers Market Association Chairman Wang Shufeng, Chengdu Jiaye Real Estate Development Chairman Dai Desheng, and Rongli State Group General Manager Yang Shengli.

Published in Dawn, May 21st, 2017