BEIJING: Speaker of the Sindh Assembly Nisar Khuhro said here on Thursday that China being a friend was helping Pakistan to meet its challenges and to be a proud country in the comity of nations.
Nisar Khuhro, who is leading a delegation comprising businessmen, traders and senior officials from Sindh, said frequent exchange of high level delegations between the two countries further cemented their bilateral ties.
Speaking as chief guest at the largely attended Sindh Trade and Investment Forum at the Pakistan Embassy, Khuhro said the main purpose of holding this event was to introduce Sindh to China.
He said from the elaborate presentations of the high ranking provincial officers, the participants of Forum had got first hand information about the investment opportunities the Sindh province was offering to the Chinese friends.
He said that the government had created an atmosphere conducive for investment, particularly for the Chinese investors who should take advantage of this.
He pointed out in line with the directive given by President Asif Ali Zardari, the leadership of Pakistan Peoples Party was fully committed to increasing cooperation with China in all fields.
Advisor to Sindh Chief Minister and Chairman, Sindh Board of Investment, Muhammad Zubair Motiwala in his presentation "Sindh - The Land of Endless Opportunities", said that the Sindh Board of Investment was a principal investment promotion agency of the province facilitating foreign and local business and was acting as a bridge between the government and the business community.
Highlighting Sindh's competitive advantage he said the province had 352-km long coastline and two major sea ports.
He said the province had immense energy resources in oil, gas and coal as well as the unlimited scope in renewable energy including wind, solar and biogas.
The Sindh province has fertile land and delicious fruits, sophisticated financial sector, modern telecom sector and internationally compatible human resources, he added.
He said that the province planned to establish Education City for fostering a better tomorrow for future generations. This would be the world class Education City for which 23 higher learning institutions have already given their consent.
Other potential resources for investment, he said, included Fisheries Special Economic Zone, Livestock Special Economic Zone, Special Economic Zone at Dhabeji, Marble City, Keenjhar Lake, Agriculture Sector, Alternate Energy projects, Thar Coal, and BioMass. He said the Wind Corridors in Hyderabad, Gharo and some other parts of the province have a potential of 50,000 MW.
Secretary Sindh Board of Investment, Mohammad Younus Dagha in his presentation on Coal and Energy, said Sindh has 186 billion tons of coal and the Thar Desert contains the world?s 7th largest coal reserves of 175 billion tons.
He said there are four major coal fields in Sindh located in Lakhra, Sonda, Badin and Thar.
On the credibility of reserves, he said, studies have been conducted by world renowned countries including United Sates Geological Survey, John T. Boyd, RWE of Germany as well as Shenhua of China. These studies, he said, confirm the presence of huge coal reserves in that area.
He said the government of Sindh wants "to develop Thar Coal as a major source of power generation for Energy and Economic Security of the country and as a hub of petro Chemical Industry."
The present government has set a goal to generate at least 10,000 MW energy by 2020. He said the Sindh Government assures huge proven reserves with authentic data and offers higher returns for investors, business friendly policies and environment and excellent incentive, concession and protections.
The Sindh Government, he pointed out, has formulated a strategy to attract private investment with various incentives, concessions and protections for investors, power purchase guarantee scheme and provision of robust infrastructure.
He also highlighted the fiscal incentives for coal development, protections, power purchase guarantee schemes, conversion of oil based power plants to coal, infrastructure development in the Thar area, status of allocated Thar Blocks, procedure for allocation of blocks, and use of lignite.
Agha Jan Akhtar, Sindh Secretary Agriculture, in his presentation on Investment Opportunities in Agriculture Sector, said Sindh has immense opportunities in agriculture including setting up of cool chains (Controlled Atmosphere Stores) processing, packing including transport, storage and export, Fruit and vegetable processing plants, seeds production and processing industry (Hybrid seed production of vegetables and other crops), Rice Processing, Packing and Export, Dates Drying, packing, green house flower production, cul-flowers and other ornamental plants besides high productive farming.
The Director General, PPP (Public Private Partnership) Unit, Sohail Rajput in his presentation said that the PPP Unit was established in mid- 2008 and offers to private sector the administrative support, asset based support, direct financial assistance and government guarantees.
He also informed about various projects for solicitation including Hyderabad-Badin Road, Jherruck Mullah Katiyar Bridge, Food Silosand Keenjhar Lake Resort.
Earlier, Ambassador Masood Khan in his welcome remarks said that province of Sindh has immense potential to develop. Its people are enterprising and hardworking. It already has the largest and most prosperous metropolis in Pakistan.
He said that it is rich in natural and agricultural resources. Its manufacturing sector is on the rising curve and its vast mineral and water resources will move the wheels of the huge industrial network that the Sindh government is creating.
"We invite all the Chinese companies to start and expand their business in Pakistan and move to the next stage of joint ventures, equity participation and manufacturing facilities in Pakistan," he added.
He expressed the confidence that the two countries will continue to work together for taking their economic and trade cooperation to new heights.
The Forum was also addressed by Wang Shenliang, CEO, Three Gorges First Wind Farm Pakistan Ltd. and Jin Guang Ming Chairman Sinotec, who informed the participants about their experience of doing business in Pakistan.
Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011
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