(February 2010)
Ladies and Gentlemen!
I am very pleased to attend the luncheon with the corporate leaders. This interaction
would provide me the opportunity to talk candidly on the economic and business cooperation
between the two countries, which is important to enhance our existing bilateral
relationship.
Our bilateral trade was US$6.76 billion during the last year. This was despite the
fact that there was a global recession and downturn. Our exports to China were US$1.26
billion and our imports from China were US$ 5.5 billion. This trade volume needs
to be enhanced further. We have a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement on goods, investment
and services which needs to be exploited to its full. It should serve as a platform
for further strengthening of our trade ties. We have a lot to offer to Chinese investors
in almost every sector but more so in IT and Telecom, Agriculture and Agro-based
Industry, Power Generation, Oil and Gas, Mining infrastructure, real estate development
and construction.
The businessmen of the two countries could form joint ventures under the bilateral
Five Year Programme for Trade and Economic Development. The Joint Investment Company
is the right vehicle to steer this cooperation. There is a great scope for cooperation
in the small and medium enterprises.
We look forward with great interest to developing a close nexus between our economy
and trade and the economy of Western regions of China. There is a natural linkage
and tremendous complementarities, which both Pakistan and China are well placed
to develop. We need to exploit full potential of Karakoram Highway for flourishing
of trade through our land border.
In conclusion, Ladies and Gentlemen, let me say that you are important stakeholders
for us and we recognize our responsibility to provide you secure and predictable
environment to strengthen your comfort level. Let me reiterate our Government’s
commitment and resolve to provide investment friendly environment that enhances
the confidence of both domestic and overseas investors, and good governance both
in the public and private sector.
In the end, let me thank all of you for your participation, especially the Chinese
companies, who wish to explore investment and trade opportunities in Pakistan. We
expect that such interactions will further promote our bilateral investment and
trade relations and will prove a milestone in bringing our two countries closer.
Thank You