Islamabad (GNP): Board of Investment (BOI) Minister Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh met Dr. Li Kouqing, Deputy Director of the CAREC Institute, and Dr. Ghulam Samad, the Institute’s Chief of the Research Division, to discuss closer cooperation, investment promotion and economic collaboration between Pakistan and China. BOI Additional Secretary Zulfiqar Ali and Director General Mehmood Tufail were also present.
Sheikh welcomed the delegation and praised Dr. Li’s work to strengthen institutional ties and economic cooperation. He recalled attending a CAREC event in Urumqi, China, last year and thanked the CAREC leadership for helping arrange his meeting with China’s Finance Minister on the sidelines. Such contacts, he said, should be sustained, and he wants to deepen interaction with Chinese leaders and institutions for mutual economic benefit.
Dr. Li said the CAREC Institute is keen to explore more areas of cooperation with the BOI and other government bodies, and stressed the value of dialogue on investment, economic development and regional cooperation. He suggested holding similar events in various Pakistani cities that would bring together policymakers, researchers, investors and business communities to showcase the country’s investment potential.
Sheikh welcomed the idea and promised the government’s full support in organising such events. Closer institutional ties and direct contact with investors, he said, could raise awareness of Pakistan’s economic potential, help identify promising sectors and encourage more investment.
The minister described Pakistan as an attractive destination, citing its large consumer market, sizeable workforce and opportunities across many sectors. With the world’s fifth-largest population, he said, the country offers considerable scope for investment in manufacturing, technology, agriculture, minerals, infrastructure and other growth industries.
Drawing on a visit to the United States about three weeks earlier, where he met a number of investors, he said international interest in the Pakistani market is rising. Although the market is less developed in some areas than those of neighbouring countries, he argued, that leaves ample room for growth and new investment. With the right partnerships, a supportive business climate and effective government facilitation, Pakistan can attract capital while creating jobs and building productive capacity.
Sheikh said Pakistan will host the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit next year, with Chinese President Xi Jinping expected to attend, and that a business forum is planned alongside it as a platform for business leaders, investors and policymakers. A Pakistan Tech Forum is also scheduled for next month, reflecting the government’s push for technology-driven investment, innovation and business collaboration. Together with ongoing facilitation and regulatory reforms, he said, these events can strengthen economic partnerships and draw foreign investors.
He added that the government remains committed to supporting local and foreign investors through better coordination, streamlined procedures and help in finding viable projects, and that it welcomes engagement with international institutions, research bodies and business communities.
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The meeting ended with both sides agreeing to explore continued engagement between the CAREC Institute, the BOI and relevant government institutions, including possible joint events to highlight Pakistan’s investment potential and strengthen Pakistan-China economic ties.
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
