LAHORE, (APP – UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – 9th May, 2026) A high-profile 30-member Chinese business delegation held extensive meetings with their Pakistani counterparts aimed at enhancing bilateral trade, investment and industrial cooperation during their visit to Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Regional Office here Saturday.
Following the meeting, Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed between Chinese companies and various Chambers of Commerce and Industry across Punjab to promote mutual cooperation and strengthen business relations. Sector-wise Business-to-Business (B2B) meetings were also organized between Pakistani businessmen and Chinese delegates to explore investment opportunities and potential joint ventures.
FPCCI President Atif Ikram Sheikh stated that with Gwadar Port serving as a gateway to the world, Pakistan acts as a strategic bridge connecting China to the middle East, Africa, and Europe. He emphasized that Pakistan’s geographical location offers a pivotal advantage for Chinese industries seeking relocation or expansion opportunities.
FPCCI Regional Chairman and Vice President Zaki Aijaz and Patron-in-Chief of United Business Group (UBG) S.M. Tanveer said that Pakistan is emerging as a highly competitive manufacturing hub.
They noted that Pakistan’s GSP Plus status allows duty-free exports to the European Union on more than 6,600 tariff lines, while also enjoying favorable market access to the United States. He added that while direct exports from China may face certain trade barriers, “Made in Pakistan” products can access Western markets at significantly lower tariffs under existing trade agreements and the China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement (CPFTA).
Highlighting the agricultural sector, Zaki Aijaz said that Pakistan’s vast fertile land and Punjab’s status as the country’s “fruit basket” offer immense opportunities for investment in corporate farming and value-added food processing for exports to China.
He also emphasized that investors in Special Economic Zones (SEZs) can benefit from a 10-year tax holiday. He described Pakistan’s SEZs as “plug-and-play” destinations specifically designed to facilitate Chinese industrial investment.
Khalil Hashmi, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to the People’s Republic of China, briefed the Chinese delegation on the strengths and opportunities available in Punjab’s industrial clusters. He said the visit marks the beginning of a new chapter in bilateral cooperation through joint ventures, investment, and trade promotion.
