Business

China to build automobile city in Gwadar

Analysts have advised owners of local automobile industry to start joint ventures with Chinese

APP February 28, 2017

PHOTO: AFP

ISLAMABAD: Chinese investors are contemplating to build a chemical and automobile city in Gwadar under the umbrella of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Gwadar to re-acquire status of winter capital

According to a private news channel, sources linked to CPEC project stated that the Chinese authorities have already initiated paperwork on said projects, which reflects their seriousness.

Analysts have advised owners of local automobile industry to start joint ventures with Chinese as this would help in transfer of technology as well as boost the local industry. Earlier, China announced to set up a steel factory under CPEC apart from various other projects.

China is developing the Gwadar port as a strategic and commercial hub under its ‘One-Belt One-Road’ initiative that promises shared regional prosperity. CPEC is one of many arteries of the ‘One-Belt One-Road’

In 2013, Pakistan handed over the Gwadar port to the Chinese company by annulling a deal with a Singapore company that could not develop the port after taking over in 2007. The ECC further approved amendments in the Gwadar Port Concession Agreement for operating and developing the Gwadar port and free zone.

Govt finally allocates Rs25b for Gwadar LNG pipeline

On October 31, hundreds of Chinese trucks loaded with goods rolled into the Sost dry port in Gilgit-Baltistan as a multibillion-dollar project between Pakistan and China formally became operational.

The corridor is about 3,000-kilometre long consisting of highways, railways and pipelines that will connect China’s Xinjiang province to the rest of the world through Gwadar port.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 28^th, 2017.

Like Business on Facebook, follow @TribuneBiz on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.

COMMENTS (15)

Truth2 | 7 years ago | Reply Why would anyone select Gwadar to build a factory city for auto's and chemicals? It doesn't have the labor pool, power grid, customers, distribution facilities, water, or any of the basics that someone would consider essential when selecting a place to build a factory. The only thing Gwadar seems to have is a bunch of politicians and landholders who are desperately trying to maintain the image that Gwadar has relevance.

Anthony Mitchell | 7 years ago | Reply What will become of the hazardous waste generated from an industrial project of this type? Assurance of safe, modern treatment and disposal capacity should be made before the project is allowed to proceed. On a broader scale, in order to reduce or avoid financial liabilities, a proper environmental and health impact study should be conducted before any and all large projects are allowed to begin.

VIEW MORE COMMENTS

Komal S | 7 years ago | Reply Please, please develop Pakistan. At least that will force you out of Terrorism.

Truth | 7 years ago | Reply The projects that China is supporting are often intended not to support the local economy, but to facilitate Chinese access to natural resources, or to open the market for its low-cost and shoddy export goods. In many cases, China even sends its own construction workers, minimizing the number of local jobs that are created. Several of the projects that have been completed are now bleeding money. For example, Sri Lanka’s Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport, which opened in 2013 near Hambantota, has been dubbed the world’s emptiest.China is supporting infrastructure projects in strategically located developing countries, often by extending huge loans to their governments. As a result, countries are becoming ensnared in a debt trap that leaves them vulnerable to China’s influence.

Truth | 7 years ago | Reply @ Hamza Khan: You are just being rhetoric. Why not argue with facts and figures?

hamza khan | 7 years ago | Reply @Truth: nothing of what you said is true. the government and PC of pakistan is taking this with extreme caution and china truly wants this to work for pakistan. this utter nonsense that they will dump produce and other things is hogwash. the NTC is designed to prevent and the recent steel dumping issue is proof that the chinese cannot get away with whatver they want. this is great news. stop being jealous.

hamza khan | 7 years ago | Reply @Rahul: not. complete and utter hogwash. indians inferiority complex starts showing. go back to your veggies.

Rahul | 7 years ago | Reply Pakistan government is willing to sign guarantees of 24 % to 37 % rate of return. Whether the project produces cars or not, the profits are guaranteed.

M.S. | 7 years ago | Reply Every company on Pakistani soil must have majority share owned by Pakistanis. After working with Arabs for six decades we should have learned this thing.

fahim | 7 years ago | Reply Just WOW, Time to migrate to Gawader

Shuaib | 7 years ago | Reply China is developing the world. It is insane.

ToThePoint | 7 years ago | Reply Great news. Makes commercial sense, since the central location of Gwadar allows it to be an ideal manufacturing base for exports to Africa and Middle East.

Saeed Masood | 7 years ago | Reply Good more jobs for people of Pakistan soon there will be more than one job for every Pakistani and the jealous will be have more reasons to be jealous...Inshahallah

Truth | 7 years ago | Reply How many vehicles have passed through Pakistan since the inauguration on November 13th. Electricity cost through CPEC projects is highest in South Asia. How are we going to compete with other countries. Chinese economy is based on export to other countries. Why will they allow Pakistan to be their competitors. Chinese will prefer to give jobs to Chinese and improve their economy. We already have negative trade balance with China because of free trade agreement. This will allow China to dump their products in Pakistan. We also have security and law and order issues which has to be solved first for any FDI. Above all do we have any feasible study report for all the projects under CPEC.

salman | 7 years ago | Reply Wow another exciting news. CPEC on a role.

Replying to X