In a strategic push to improve the trade balance with China, Saquib Fayyaz Magoon, Senior Vice President of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) and Chairman, Businessmen Panel Progressive (BMPP), met with His Excellency Shahzad Ahmed, Consul General of Pakistan in Shanghai. The core message was: without targeted investment in value-added production, Pakistan cannot hope to transform its export mix to China.
Both sides agreed that Pakistan’s agriculture and food sectors hold immense potential, with investment flows into processing, packaging, and quality control. Mr. Magoon stressed that shifting from raw products to value-added goods requires capital infusion in cold chains, certification labs, and branding. He called for detailed market research to identify high-demand items in China, urging farmers and exporters to align cultivation with Chinese requirements—backed by investment in modern farming and post-harvest facilities.
The discussion also highlighted that even the best products fail without superior presentation. Improved packaging, branding, and quality standards were identified as urgent investment priorities to make Pakistani goods competitive and appealing to Chinese consumers.
Opportunities in information technology were also reviewed. Both leaders emphasized that promoting IT exports and software development joint ventures depends on sustained investment in digital infrastructure, skills training, and technology parks. Pakistan’s rapidly growing tech industry, they noted, is ready for Chinese partnership capital.
Another key issue was the progress of the Naphtha Cracker Plant project, for which a memorandum of understanding was signed last year. The project faces delay due to financing hurdles on the Chinese side. Both parties emphasized the urgency of resolving these investment bottlenecks, given the project’s strategic importance for Pakistan’s industrial growth and petrochemical sector—a value-added industry by definition.
His Excellency Shahzad Ahmed lauded FPCCI’s efforts in trade diplomacy and assured full support from the Consulate General in Shanghai, not just in facilitating exports but in actively helping Pakistani businesses attract Chinese investment for value-added ventures. He reiterated that China remains a vital strategic and economic partner for Pakistan, and that closer collaboration between business communities would yield long-term benefits.
Saquib Fayyaz Magoon reaffirmed FPCCI’s commitment to playing a proactive role in expanding Pakistan-China trade ties, attracting investment, and fostering cooperation in key sectors for mutual advantage. The message was consistent throughout: investment in value addition is no longer optional—it is the only path to transforming Pakistan’s export mix to China.
