By Zafar Hussain  

 

BEIJING, Nov 27 (Gwadar Pro) - Pakistan's Ambassador to China, Khalil Hashmi, highlighted the transformative potential of the Pakistan-China partnership in agriculture and food processing during the Pakistan-China Animal Fodder, Fruits, and Vegetables Conference held in Beijing on Tuesday. The event, organized by the Embassy of Pakistan in collaboration with key BOI and Chinese stakeholders, aimed to foster business-to-business (B2B) matchmaking and drive investment in Pakistan's agriculture sector.

 

Ambassador Hashmi stated, "Today, we move beyond exploration into the realm of action, partnership, and prosperity. He emphasized the enduring strength of Pakistan-China relations, describing the partnership as a model of trust, shared vision, and collective progress.

 

The conference was attended by Mayor Liu Jianjun of Weifang, a key figure in agricultural innovation in China. Reflecting on his earlier visit to Weifang, Ambassador Hashmi lauded the city's contribution to strengthening bilateral cooperation. He also acknowledged the Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China (MOFCOM) for its pivotal role in facilitating export-oriented investment discussions between the two nations.

 

" Between 2017 and 2022, maize production in Pakistan surged by 12%, and in 2022 alone, we produced 480,000 tons of rapeseedand 256,000 tons of millet. Coupled with significant capacities in wheat, sugarcane, rice, and poultry meal, the local poultry feed market has expanded to nearly USD 2 billion, creating ripe opportunities for value addition and investment , he added.

 

He said that the fruits and vegetables processing industry was identified as a cornerstone of Pakistan's agricultural economy. Ambassador Hashmi highlighted Pakistan's cultivation of over 35 types of vegetables and 30 varieties of fruits across nearly one million hectares, with an annual vegetable yield of 15 million tons supported by over 700 cold storage units. While the sector already contributes significantly to exports through products like fruit juices, pickles, and jams, he stressed the untapped potential for processed food exports, which currently account for only 6% of total food exports.

 

"Pakistan offers an investor-friendly environment, with incentives such as 100% foreign equity ownership, zero tariffs on plant and machinery imports, and seamless profit repatriation, the ambassador explained. He encouraged Chinese companies to establish joint ventures, citing profit margins of up to 4.6% and leveraging Pakistan's cost advantages and strategic connectivity to South Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle East.

 

Ambassador Hashmi concluded by invoking a Chinese proverb, "If you want to go far, go together,emphasizing the collaborative spirit underpinning Pakistan-China relations. He urged participants to seize the opportunities discussed and transform them into lasting partnerships and tangible results.

 

The conference reaffirmed the strength of Pakistan-China ties and underscored their shared commitment to fostering innovation, economic stability, and mutual prosperity in the agricultural sector.

 

This article originally appeared on Gwadar Pro.