China has agreed to help Pakistan for setting up high-tech industries by transferring necessary technology. A formal document to this effect will be signed next week, under which Chinese-style incubators will be established at various sites in Pakistan. Training process for use of the incubators will start forthwith. Official sources told newsmen in Beijing that first-batch of Pakistani officials will be provided the training from the next month. It was agreed that the Chinese side will also assist in setting up a mega-industrial project in the country.

Pakistan will benefit from China's successful experience in the promotion of high-tech industry and commercialisation of research fruits.

The sources hoped that the establishment of technology parks and incubators would be useful for Pakistan in its endeavours to establish research and development (R&D) relating to high-tech industry.

The sources stressed the need for the two sides to identify some market driven projects in various disciplines of science and technology.

In China, establishment and development of business incubators is the key for the high technology industry. As a giant developing country, it has made efforts to accelerate the birth and growth of incubators, with the aim of catching up with technologically more advanced countries.

The country has built more than 200 high-tech enterprise, incubators since the first one was established in 1967. The incubators are nursing over 5,290 enterprises, in addition to 1,900 plus enterprises which have matured.

Copyright Associated Press of Pakistan, 2005