KARACHI, Jan 17: Site Hyderabad has received investment to the tune of Rs260 million in 13 Chinese motorcycle plants set up recently.

These plants export two-wheelers to Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh and on average 2,000 bikes are being exported every month, the manufacturers said.

Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry vice president Ziauddin told Dawn that investment in the Site may increase manifold provided infrastructure in the estate is improved.

He said government is inviting investment in agro-food industries for which there is great scope in Hyderabad Site due to vast farm lands situated around the corner.

He said apart from the new industries the 300 odd existing units mainly of textile, rice, pulses etc were on the brink of closure due to non-availibility of basic infrastructure, like water, electricity, roads and sewerage.

Ziauddin said another major problem that obstructs rapid industrialisation and employment generation is encroachment in the Site.

He said that Sindh Industrial Trading Estate (SITE) Limited managing director Rashid Solangi during several visits promised to improve infrastructure in Site Hyderabad but to no avail.

During a recent visit Mr Solangi informed Hyderabad industrialists that a summary for the grant of Rs2 billion for infrastructure development has been sent to Islamabad which is already suffering from serious financial crunch.

Hyderabad chamber official said that the ministry of industries has been delaying allotment of about 50 industrial plots in Site Extension for the last three years, thus preventing industrialisation and job creation for youth of the interior who look for jobs in the government, which is already over employed.

Meanwhile, a leading Chinese bike maker Amin Khatri told Dawn that on average 2,000 bikes are being exported per month. Export orders are increasing gradually as inquiries have been received from some African countries.

He claimed that out of total 55-56 bike making plants the highest number (13) in a single city were operating from Hyderabad site.

Asked why they preferred Hyderabad over Karachi for establishing bike plants, Mr Amin said land rates were far less in Hyderabad Site compared to Site Karachi besides there was a great sale potential in the nearby agriculture towns and villages where people purchase bikes in large numbers on getting a bumper cash crop every year.