Chinese Aerospace Firm to Explore $10 Billion Investment
Federal Minister for Board of Investment Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh held an important meeting with a high-level delegation of the Chinese company Aerospace Development Industry Investment Group Co., led by Mr. Lu Jinhai, Party Secretary and Chairman of the Board.
Welcoming the delegation, the Federal Minister highlighted the vast investment opportunities available in Pakistan and appreciated the interest shown by the Chinese company in exploring potential investment avenues in the country.CPEC Pakistan: Matiari Transmission Line Project delayed
Pakistan offers significant investment potential owing to its strategic geographic location connecting South Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle East, a large consumer market of over 240 million people, and a young and dynamic workforce. The country also provides attractive incentives for investors.
The Chinese delegation thanked the Federal Minister for the meeting and briefed him on the global profile and operations of their company. They informed that Aerospace Development Industry Investment Group is an international investment group with an AAA corporate credit rating, engaged in strategic industrial investments in areas including advanced technologies, aerospace development, artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, drone technologies, and energy projects.
During the meeting, the delegation expressed keen interest in investing between USD 5 billion to USD 10 billion in Pakistan across multiple sectors including mining and minerals, advanced technology industries, and industrial development. They also emphasized their interest in collaborating with Pakistan on skill development initiatives, highlighting their long-term vision of contributing to Pakistan’s economic development and technological advancement.
The delegation further expressed its willingness to work with Pakistan to support the objectives of the One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative and enhance regional connectivity and economic cooperation.
Federal Minister Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh appreciated the interest shown by the Chinese company and welcomed their intention to invest in Pakistan. He stated that Pakistan greatly values its longstanding friendship with China, which is widely recognized as a relationship “higher than the mountains and deeper than the oceans.”
The Minister emphasized that Pakistan is keen to attract greater foreign direct investment (FDI) and expects strong support from its trusted partner China in this regard.
Sharing his personal experience, the Minister noted that he first visited China in 1972 and has since visited the country more than fifty times, witnessing firsthand China’s remarkable economic transformation and development.
He further informed the delegation that under the vision of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, the Government of Pakistan is taking concrete steps to improve the investment climate in the country. The Board of Investment is actively working on regulatory reforms to facilitate investors, promote ease of doing business and streamline business procedures.
The Minister also referred to the Pakistan–China Business-to-Business Conference held in September, where more than 300 companies from Pakistan and China participated, resulting in the signing of 167 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) aimed at strengthening bilateral investment and trade cooperation.
Highlighting the existing economic framework between the two countries, the Minister noted that Pakistan and China already have a Free Trade Agreement, and Pakistan is now focusing on increasing its value-added exports to further enhance economic cooperation.
The Federal Minister also briefed the delegation on the incentives available for investors in Pakistan’s Special Economic Zones (SEZs), including exemption from income tax and sales tax on the import of machinery, along with other attractive incentives designed to promote industrial investment.
The meeting concluded on a positive note, with both sides expressing optimism about expanding economic cooperation and exploring concrete investment projects in the near future.
The Board of Investment reaffirmed its commitment under the leadership of Federal Minister Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh to facilitating investors and providing all possible support to promote foreign investment in Pakistan.