Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: Chairman Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Capital Office, Qurban Ali urged on Sunday for enhancing the China and Pakistan economic and trade connectivity through the nearer region of Gilgit Baltistan(GB).
The senior business leader said that the GB region is a gateway for CPEC to provide opportunities to the Chinese business community and investors to connect with China as well as other regional countries including Central Asian Republics (CARs) to get benefits from their economies said a press release issued by FPCCI here. The Chairman FPCCI said this in meeting of a delegation of the FPCCI led by him to Ambassador of China in Islamabad, Nong Rong was held at Chinese embassy along with senior business leaders Immediate Past Vice President FPCCI, Muhammad Ali Quaid, Coordinator FPCCI Capital Office, Islamabad Mirza Abdul Rehman.
The President Hunza Chamber of Commerce Industry (CCI) Mehboob Rabani and Former President Gilgit CCI, Mushtaq Hussain also attended the meeting.
He said that China Pakistan Economic (CPEC) related Gilgit Baltistan (GB) Special economic Zone (SEZ) and others would increase the business and industrial cooperation between China and Pakistan.
Qurban said that Chinese investors and businessmen can invest and start Joint Ventures (JVs) with local industrialists in Gilgit Baltistan, SEZ in value addition on agriculture, livestock, mines and minerals and milk products.
While he said that in Gilgit Baltistan, there is huge potential of hydro power, which also supports any Chinese investor for available cheap energy to the industrial sector and provides secure business opportunity.
Qurban Ali also said that GB region has a huge potential of tourism and livestock as the region owns the 8 biggest mountains of the world including any raw material for the Industrial sector and agro- industries.
Due to close proximity with China the local business community of Gilgit Baltistan has been facing certain issues and having some benefits as well, he said.
Qurban Ali said that during the COVID-19 because of closure of Khunjerab Pass bilateral trade volume between Pakistan and China through Khunjerab was decreasing.
