KARACHI: Pakistan has extended an invitation to Chinese manufacturers and investors to establish joint ventures and production facilities in various sectors, including dyes and chemicals, agro-chemicals, biotechnology, and industrial chemicals. This initiative aims to deepen economic cooperation between Pakistan and China by promoting joint industrial production rather than relying solely on bilateral trade in finished products.

According to Pakistan Chemicals & Dyes Merchants Association (PCDMA), the invitation was extended by its Chairman, Salim Valimuhammad, while representing Pakistan at the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) and the IBI 99 Global Business Linkage Festival in Beijing. Pakistan's Ambassador to China, Khalil Hashmi, Senator Rana Mahmoodul-Hassan, and other notable figures attended the event.

Salim Valimuhammad emphasized the strong bilateral ties between Pakistan and China, describing the two countries as "iron brothers." He highlighted that the dyes and chemicals sector in Pakistan is closely linked to the country's significant textile, leather, and coatings exports. Pakistan imports a substantial portion of its dyes and chemicals from China, indicating a robust market and potential for local manufacturing by Chinese companies.

The PCDMA chairman invited Chinese companies to explore joint ventures in various chemical sectors, including environmentally compliant chemicals, crop-protection products, and specialty chemicals. He pointed out that Pakistan's agriculture sector offers significant opportunities, with a large crop-protection market reliant on imported pesticide active ingredients.

Valimuhammad also noted the potential for capacity expansion and export-oriented production in Pakistan's hydrogen peroxide industry. He called on Chinese businesses to invest in the country, citing government initiatives like the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as facilitators of a more investor-friendly environment.

He assured potential investors that the PCDMA is committed to facilitating partnerships and investment linkages between Chinese companies and Pakistani businesses. The association has already signed memorandums of understanding with Chinese entities and is actively offering access to potential Pakistani partners through its membership network.