BEIJING: President Pervez Musharraf has called upon the Chinese Investors to contribute maximum to the industrialisation of Pakistan to generate employment opportunities that would help curb the menace of extremism and terrorism.
Addressing the Pakistan-China Business Forum here Monday, the President pointed out that Pakistan offers great opportunities for investment in various sectors including joint ventures with a win-win situation for both sides.
He said that he personally feels that the environment in China and Pakistan “is very conducive for creating business opportunities.”
The President said that Pakistan is a big market with a population of 160 million. For the last five years the Pakistan economy has grown at the rate of over 7 percent while the GDP has more than doubled, he said, adding when the demand-supply gap reduces the profitability is increased.
President Musharraf told the gathering that more than 600 companies in Pakistan were earning a very high-level of profit.
He said that he knows that many companies are making profits in double figures and most of are earning profit of 20 per cent and above.
“This is the kind of profitability available in Pakistan,” he noted.
He said that Pakistan offers lot of opportunities for Chinese investors and the people of Pakistan love the people of China from the core of their heart.
The geo-strategic location of Pakistan, the President said, is also very important as it is located at the cross-road of West Asia, Central Asia, Central China and South Asia. He said that Pakistan offers shortest route for trade and business among all these countries and the Gulf.
The President said that Pakistan is developing its communication system and the construction of Gwadar Port is one of these measures while expansion of Karakorum Highway is in progress.
Pakistan, the President said also offers cheap labour and is working on improving the quality of manpower by establishing engineering universities with the assistance of foreign countries.
“We are equally paying attention towards vocational and skill training for the labour force.” The President said that Pakistan offers numerous incentives for the Chinese investors and lauded those who are already doing business including China Mobile and Hair-Ruba.
President Musharraf also mentioned the mega projects Pakistan has awarded to China, including expansion of Karakoram Highway and the Neelum-Jehlum hydropower project. He said that during his meetings with the top Chinese leadership he has proposed laying of railway line to connect China with Pakistan and investment in energy sector, while the tow countries are already cooperating in nuclear energy field.
The President said that the 21st century is the era of geo-economic and therefore the focus ought to be on the economic, trade, commercial and investment cooperation and joint ventures.
He said that Pakistan and China have already signed a Free Trade Agreement and to make it more comprehensive both the countries are in the process of signing such accord in the services sector as well.
This, he said would further increase the trade between Pakistan and China.
The level of bilateral trade now stands at $6.8 billion dollars, but he said that “we can not rest as we are targeting to raise it to $16 billion dollars by 2011.” This is a big target, but with the joint contributions, and with the wish and resolve of both the sides from the private sector he was very confident that this target is achievable.
Referring to the establishment of the Pakistan-China Joint Investment Company, the President said that it would facilitate business cooperation for the mutual benefit.
“We also have a 5-year Joint Economic and Trade plan and call upon the business sector to avail all these advantages.”
The President said that during his stay he held very useful and constructive talks with the Chinese leaders and there was complete consonance on all regional, international and bilateral issue. “The base of our friendship is very large,” he said.
Earlier, Ambassador Salman Bashir said that the visit of President Musharraf reflects the great tradition of close friendship and partnership that so happily exists between Pakistan and China.
The Chinese Minister of Commerce, Chen Deming, said that the leadership of the two countries in the 21st century is visionary and they have established closer strategic partnership.
He said that the cooperative partnership has further promoted the in-depth development of Sino-Pak cooperation.
The minister said that during the past five years the Chinese economy has been growing at the rate of over ten percent per year, while Pakistan for the past few years has witnessed growth rate of 7 percent per year. “Pakistan has become one of the fastest growing economies in the world,” he said. He said that with the strong support of the leadership of the two countries as well as the business community the China-Pakistan trade and economic cooperation has been surging continuously. app
Addressing the Pakistan-China Business Forum here Monday, the President pointed out that Pakistan offers great opportunities for investment in various sectors including joint ventures with a win-win situation for both sides.
He said that he personally feels that the environment in China and Pakistan “is very conducive for creating business opportunities.”
The President said that Pakistan is a big market with a population of 160 million. For the last five years the Pakistan economy has grown at the rate of over 7 percent while the GDP has more than doubled, he said, adding when the demand-supply gap reduces the profitability is increased.
President Musharraf told the gathering that more than 600 companies in Pakistan were earning a very high-level of profit.
He said that he knows that many companies are making profits in double figures and most of are earning profit of 20 per cent and above.
“This is the kind of profitability available in Pakistan,” he noted.
He said that Pakistan offers lot of opportunities for Chinese investors and the people of Pakistan love the people of China from the core of their heart.
The geo-strategic location of Pakistan, the President said, is also very important as it is located at the cross-road of West Asia, Central Asia, Central China and South Asia. He said that Pakistan offers shortest route for trade and business among all these countries and the Gulf.
The President said that Pakistan is developing its communication system and the construction of Gwadar Port is one of these measures while expansion of Karakorum Highway is in progress.
Pakistan, the President said also offers cheap labour and is working on improving the quality of manpower by establishing engineering universities with the assistance of foreign countries.
“We are equally paying attention towards vocational and skill training for the labour force.” The President said that Pakistan offers numerous incentives for the Chinese investors and lauded those who are already doing business including China Mobile and Hair-Ruba.
President Musharraf also mentioned the mega projects Pakistan has awarded to China, including expansion of Karakoram Highway and the Neelum-Jehlum hydropower project. He said that during his meetings with the top Chinese leadership he has proposed laying of railway line to connect China with Pakistan and investment in energy sector, while the tow countries are already cooperating in nuclear energy field.
The President said that the 21st century is the era of geo-economic and therefore the focus ought to be on the economic, trade, commercial and investment cooperation and joint ventures.
He said that Pakistan and China have already signed a Free Trade Agreement and to make it more comprehensive both the countries are in the process of signing such accord in the services sector as well.
This, he said would further increase the trade between Pakistan and China.
The level of bilateral trade now stands at $6.8 billion dollars, but he said that “we can not rest as we are targeting to raise it to $16 billion dollars by 2011.” This is a big target, but with the joint contributions, and with the wish and resolve of both the sides from the private sector he was very confident that this target is achievable.
Referring to the establishment of the Pakistan-China Joint Investment Company, the President said that it would facilitate business cooperation for the mutual benefit.
“We also have a 5-year Joint Economic and Trade plan and call upon the business sector to avail all these advantages.”
The President said that during his stay he held very useful and constructive talks with the Chinese leaders and there was complete consonance on all regional, international and bilateral issue. “The base of our friendship is very large,” he said.
Earlier, Ambassador Salman Bashir said that the visit of President Musharraf reflects the great tradition of close friendship and partnership that so happily exists between Pakistan and China.
The Chinese Minister of Commerce, Chen Deming, said that the leadership of the two countries in the 21st century is visionary and they have established closer strategic partnership.
He said that the cooperative partnership has further promoted the in-depth development of Sino-Pak cooperation.
The minister said that during the past five years the Chinese economy has been growing at the rate of over ten percent per year, while Pakistan for the past few years has witnessed growth rate of 7 percent per year. “Pakistan has become one of the fastest growing economies in the world,” he said. He said that with the strong support of the leadership of the two countries as well as the business community the China-Pakistan trade and economic cooperation has been surging continuously. app
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