Recognising the importance of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) for the economic and social development of Pakistan and the regions, the Consulate General of Switzerland in Karachi and the Swiss Business Council of Pakistan (SBC) organised an interactive session to discuss "Opportunities for Foreign Investors in CPEC," here on Thursday.

Welcoming the guests, the Swiss Consul General Philippe Crevoisier mentioned that the Embassy of Switzerland arranged a similar event last month in Islamabad, as well. He was of the opinion that many foreign investors initially considered that CPEC is mainly a China-Pakistan venture. However as the project has advanced, many new business opportunities are coming up for other countries to join CPEC project.

In his opening presentation the President SBC Farhat Ali highlighted that CPEC is all about connectivity, thereby, opening up and aligning the whole of Pakistan, notably, the remote areas into the mainstream economic growth of the country. He said that CPEC is all about the availability of much-needed energy to spur the economic growth of the country.

"Over 32 Special Economic Zones being established under CPEC are meant to spur industrial and commercial growth under government support and incentives in favour of ease and cost of doing business," he said, adding that all these good happening, on the soil of Pakistan, are the assets of the country open to be capitalised upon by the local and foreign investors from all countries.

He said it is encouraging to note that the Swiss Companies' operatives in Pakistan are already availing the benefit drawn out of CPEC and others are on the way to do so. Considering potential of CPEC, SBC, in collaboration with Switzerland Global Enterprise and other Chambers of Commerce of Switzerland, is all set to hold a series of events under the title of 'Focus Pakistan' in Switzerland during first week of July 2017.

Chief Executive Officer of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Economic Zones Development and Management Company Syed Muhammad Mohsin and Director Projects of the Sindh Board of Investment Abdul Azeem Uqaili, who spoke at the event, emphasised that under CPEC project their provincial governments are proactively facilitating existing and new investors to set themselves up in the Special Economic Zones being set up all over the country along the proximity of corridor route alignment. The Consul General of China also spoke and highlighted the importance of the CPEC. A large number of diplomats, CEOs of various Swiss and other multinational companies, leading Pakistani businessmen and others attended the programme.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2017