QUETTA, April 7: Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Mohammad Aslam Khan Raisani has asked European Union and Central Asian states to open their trade consulates in the new port city of Gwadar. The government would provide all help and required facilities to the countries, which would launch development projects on BOT (build-operate-transfer) basis in the coastal town, he said during a meeting with French Consul General Christain Ramage here on Wednesday.

Nawab Raisani said that Gwadar will become a hub of trade and commercial activities in the region due to its geo-graphical position and deep sea waters, besides offering investment opportunities.

He said that some friendly countries had shown interest and had positively responded to the offer to set up trade consulates in Gwadar.

Besides import of wheat and fertilizer through the port, there is a plan to link it with Afghanistan and Central Asian states with a road and railway network to make the port operational in letter and spirit.

He invited the French envoy to visit Gwadar Port to have a look at suitable environment for investment.

The chief minister said there were huge reserves of uranium, gold, copper and other precious minerals in the province and a strategy was being devised to commercially exploit these minerals.