Pakistan Embassy to organise matchmaking event for Chinese, Pakistani entrepreneurs in Beijing

Islamabad: In a bid to attract investment and strengthen business ties, the Pakistan Embassy in China will organize a matchmaking event between Pakistani and Chinese entrepreneurs in Beijing by the end of next month.

“We are expecting 100 to 150 Pakistani business leaders or company representatives to visit China during the upcoming meeting of heads of government of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states. For them, we are arranging matchmaking sessions with nearly 300 Chinese companies,” Ghulam Qadir, Commercial Counselor at Pakistan Embassy in Beijing said in a statement on Sunday afternoon.

He added: “Rather than meeting for the first time on the event day—which usually leads to limited outcomes—we aim to facilitate meaningful connections through early engagement and preparation,” he explained.

A ministerial committee led by Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms, Ahsan Iqbal, has been formed to oversee the initiative. Federal Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan serves as the convener, while Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Industries and Production, Haroon Akhtar Khan, is the co-convener.

With over US $2 billion spent annually on solar panel imports, Pakistan is seeking to localize production. “There is strong demand, an existing market, and the potential for exports,” he said, noting that local manufacturing will cut imports and generate jobs.

The government is looking to introduce green steel technology from China. Qadir noted that steel is essential for EVs, construction, and other key industries. Pakistan offers ample land and demand for setting up such industries.

Currently, Pakistan exports raw copper worth around $1 billion. “We aim to process and refine copper locally, increasing export value to $4–5 billion with the right investments,” he said, adding that collaboration with Chinese firms is crucial.

Pakistan imports significant volumes of oil and petroleum products. “We are encouraging joint ventures with Chinese companies for investment and technology transfer in petrochemical sectors which would help serve local needs and open up export opportunities,” Qadir said.

Qadir concluded by stressing the need for robust cooperation in these seven sectors, alongside chemicals and petrochemicals. He stated that such partnerships will drive technology transfer, attract foreign investment, expand local manufacturing, increase exports, and create employment opportunities in Pakistan.