Pakistan, China’s Xinjiang explore joint investment opportunities

LAHORE: Pakistan and China’s Xinjiang Province have identified extensive opportunities for joint ventures and investment in agriculture, textiles, food processing, livestock and manufacturing, with a Chinese delegation inviting Pakistani businesses to translate longstanding bilateral ties into commercially viable partnerships.

The proposals were discussed at a meeting between a visiting Chinese delegation and the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) where both sides stressed the need to strengthen direct business-to-business engagement and explore cooperation in technology transfer, cross-border e-commerce, tourism and regional connectivity.

Leader of the Chinese delegation, Ha Zengyou, said the government-level agreements could achieve their full potential only when entrepreneurs come forward to convert them into practical economic projects. He said Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC) and Lahore had complementary industrial strengths and supply chains, creating significant scope for cooperation.

Presenting a four-pronged framework, he identified agriculture and food processing, textiles, new trade channels, and connectivity and infrastructure as priority areas. He said Pakistan had strong potential in fruits, vegetables, seafood, berries and nuts, while the XPCC could contribute expertise in modern cultivation, livestock, processing and cold-chain facilities.

He also highlighted Pakistan’s cotton spinning and weaving capabilities and Xinjiang’s integrated textile industry, proposing closer industrial linkages. The XPCC would also facilitate Pakistani businesses in understanding Chinese policies, customs and taxation procedures.

LCCI President Ali Hussam Asghar said the longstanding Pakistan-China friendship needed to be translated into stronger investment and business partnerships. He identified water-efficient farming, cotton productivity, food processing, packaging, cold-chain facilities and halal meat production as promising areas for joint ventures.

He also invited Chinese investors to explore Punjab’s province’s industrial estates and CPEC Special Economic Zones, highlighting the province’s skilled workforce and strategic market access.

LCCI Senior Vice President Sardar Usman Ghani proposed establishing a Chinatown in Lahore, equipped with security arrangements and necessary facilities, to provide a dedicated community environment for Chinese professionals, investors and businesses.

Former LCCI President Shahzad Ali Malik stressed the need to benefit from Xinjiang’s expertise in cotton cultivation, seed development and irrigation. He said Pakistan’s cotton production had fallen from a historical level of around 15 million bales to 5-6 million bales, forcing the country to import cotton from the United States and Brazil.

Meanwhile, Ethiopian Ambassador to Pakistan Dr Oumer Hussien Oba has invited Pakistani business community to explore investment and trade opportunities in Ethiopia which is a strategic gateway to African markets and highlighting its competitive energy costs, industrial infrastructure, investment incentives and growing economy.

Speaking at the LCCI, the ambassador said that Ethiopia, with a population of over 130 million, offered considerable opportunities for Pakistani investors, particularly in manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, textiles and other industrial sectors.

He said Ethiopia was opening more sectors to international investment and assured that efforts were being made to address regulatory challenges faced by Pakistani pharmaceutical companies.