Pakistan-China B2B investment enhancement discussed at PCBIF meeting

Islamabad: The Board of Investment and All Pakistan Chinese Enterprise Association (APCEA) has convened the meeting of Pakistan-China Business and Investment Forum (PCBIF).

The latter was launched in January 2022, and received praise in the Pakistan-China Joint Statement of February 2022, by President Xi Jinping and then Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The subject meeting was chaired by the Federal Minister Board of Investment Chaudhry Salik Hussain and Secretary, BOI, Fareena Mazhar from Pakistani side while from the Chinese side, Commercial Counsellor, Chinese Embassy, Li Yong, Commercial Attache, representatives of APCEA and major Chinese Companies attended.

Both sides discussed the future course of action for boosting the Pakistan-China Business-to-Business (B2B) Investment Cooperation. For this, they joined hands to develop a comprehensive Website for facilitating the matchmaking and presenting the relevant information regarding the B2B events, policies and investor friendly material.

The website will also allow the Chinese Enterprises to share their grievances which will be monitored and taken up with the relevant authorities.

Modalities and the programme for the 1st PCBIF Steering Committee meeting were finalised. Wherein the leading enterprises from Pakistan and China will physically participate, under the chair of the top-level leadership of Pakistan.

The Board of Investment and APCEA under the guidance of the Chinese Embassy in Islamabad, will take the lead in organising the Committee meeting.

Several Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) and Joint Ventutres (JVs) bringing substantial Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) are also in the pipeline to be signed during the said meeting.

Both sides also discussed the Visa issues of the Chinese Enterprises, and deliberated on devising a feedback mechanism regarding the issues relating to Visas and other grievances.

The PCBIF in this way will not only play its role as a torch bearer for Pak China B2B and Industrial Cooperation, but will also ensure its all-out facilitation and convenience to the businesses in a wide range of areas.