Karachi, December 31, 2021 (PPI-OT):Khalid Mansoor, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Affairs and Ex-President Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI), visited the chamber on December 30, 2021. He was warmly greeted by Ghias Uddin Khan, Vice President OICCI and M. Abdul Aleem, CE/General Secretary OICCI. The purpose of his visit was to discuss the future of and investment opportunities in CPEC.
Opening the session, M Abdul Aleem shared a brief presentation, which included portions from the recent OICCI Perception and Investment Survey 2021 that related to CPEC. The presentation included members’ optimism about CPEC projects, perception on the scope and opportunities in CPEC and their feedback on helpfulness of the concerned authorities.
SAPM on CPEC shared his detailed presentation on the objectives and roadmap of CPEC. He briefed participants that CPEC is about promoting bilateral/regional connectivity and strong economic integration through investment, trade and logistical cooperation. The first phase of CPEC was focused on infrastructure and energy projects that have attracted an investment around $25 billion. The second phase is focused on making Pakistan a manufacturing hub to increase exports and import substitution.
Four out of nine Special Economic Zones (SEZs), Rashakai, Bostan, Allama Iqbal Industrial City and Dhabeji, and Gwadar Free Zone are being developed on priority, whereas investors from Germany, UK, Netherland and China have shown keen interest in these. These SEZs offer lucrative fiscal incentives that are better than or at least at par with regional economies and are open for investors all over the world. The Interior Ministry have established a special cell for foreigners’ security and the CPEC Facilitation Center is being set up by CPEC authority to remove red-tape and provide Plug and Play Environment in SEZs. New Joint Working Groups on science and technology, agriculture and information technology are formed to reap the benefits of demographic and geographical advantages that Pakistan enjoys.
Khalid Mansoor invited all OICCI members and potential investors to invest in SEZs and take advantage of the lower freight and lead times to extend the reach of their products to three continents. He also informed that Pakistan is hosting a conference in January 2022 and requested participation in it through OICCI.
The interactive presentation was followed by an engaging Q and A session in which participants inquired further about the investment opportunities and suggested to add Marine infrastructure development in CPEC, empower Gwadar Development Authority, increase focus on import substitution, rollout of program for vocational skills development, and further initiatives for agriculture and mining sectors. SAPM on CPEC responded to the questions and suggestions warmly and assured full cooperation from CPEC authority to the participants. Concluding the session Ghias Uddin Khan and M. Abdul Aleem, thanked Khalid Mansoor for his visit to the chamber and for his exuberant interaction.
For more information, contact:
Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI)
Chamber of Commerce Building, Talpur Road, P.O. Box 4833,
Karachi – 74000, Pakistan
Tel: +92-21-32410814-5
Fax: +92-21-32427315
Email: info@oicci.org
Website: http://oicci.org/