Guangzhou (Web Desk): During her ongoing visit to China, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz took a significant step to boost economic ties between Pakistan and China on the 6th day of her trip.
In Guangzhou, she chaired a high-level roundtable investment conference, which saw the participation of more than 60 major Chinese and Hong Kong-based companies.
The conference provided a platform for representatives from a variety of sectors, including healthcare, technology, renewable energy, and agriculture, to present their ideas and strategies for potential collaboration with Punjab.
In her address, the Punjab CM unveiled several initiatives aimed at making Punjab an attractive destination for foreign investment.
She announced the formation of a specialized working group tasked with facilitating business ventures, and also appointed a focal person to streamline communication and decision-making processes.
Additionally, she introduced the concept of a help desk, designed to assist Chinese investors and businesses throughout their operational setup in Punjab.
The Punjab extended an open invitation to Chinese companies, particularly those in the fields of artificial intelligence, solar energy, waste management, and agricultural innovation, to explore investment opportunities in Punjab.
She promised to offer a seamless experience for these companies through a "one-window operation," ensuring that bureaucratic hurdles would be minimised.
While highlighting the immense potential of Punjab, CM Maryam emphasized the province's commitment to sustainability and environmental protection.
She discussed the success of the "No to Plastic" campaign, a statewide initiative to eliminate plastic pollution, and underscored Punjab's focus on innovative waste management strategies, including projects to convert waste into renewable energy.
Her mention of the "Suthra Punjab" (Clean Punjab) project further illustrated the government's drive to promote ecological well-being through cleaner, more sustainable urban environments.
The Punjab CM also spoke about the importance of modernizing agriculture in Punjab, which she described as a sector ripe for innovation.
She noted the growing interest in mechanization and the development of new agricultural technologies, including precision farming tools, hybrid seeds, and advanced irrigation techniques.
CM Maryam invited Chinese companies to partner with Punjab in these areas, stressing that such collaborations would enhance agricultural productivity and support the province’s agribusiness sector.
Renewable energy, particularly solar power, was another focal point of her remarks.
Maryam pointed to the growing demand for clean energy in Punjab and highlighted a major initiative aimed at solarizing the province’s infrastructure.
She welcomed Chinese expertise and investment in solar energy projects, promising that Punjab's policies would foster a favourable environment for such investments.
On the technological front, the Punjab CM underlined the need for innovation in the IT sector, emphasizing e-commerce, software development, and e-learning as key areas of growth.
She expressed her government's commitment to creating a state-of-the-art IT ecosystem in Punjab, with plans to develop an "IT City" designed to attract global technology companies.
She invited Chinese tech giants to invest in this vision and contribute to Punjab’s digital transformation.
The Punjab CM also spoke about the strategic advantages of investing in Pakistan, positioning it as a critical gateway for trade between Central Asia, the Middle East, and beyond. She highlighted the opportunities this geographic location offers to Chinese companies looking to expand their reach in the region.
In terms of healthcare, CM Maryam emphasized the potential for collaboration in areas like telemedicine, drawing on China's advancements in medical technology. She also mentioned the role of nanotechnology in revolutionizing agriculture and improving water efficiency in farming.
The Punjab CM noted the strong potential for Pakistan-China cooperation, expressing her belief that the growing interest among Chinese investors reflects the promising future of economic relations between the two countries.
She urged Chinese business companies to seize this opportunity, asserting that now is the ideal time for them to invest in Punjab’s burgeoning economy.