PCJCCI stresses on promoting industry

SM Naveed met chairman Wang Zihai and discussed the possibility of increasing Pakistan’s exports of marble and granite

LAHORE: Pakistan’s marble and granite industry can be transformed into a cutting-edge stone industry by adoping Chinese quarrying techniques, said the Pak-China Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCJCCI) in a statement released on Wednesday.

SM Naveed, the PCJCCI president, met chairman Wang Zihai and discussed the possibility of increasing Pakistan’s exports of marble and granite with the collaboration of China.

Naveed said the industry could be taken under the fold of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), adding that provinces have huge deposits of ornamental stones that could be utilised.

Identifying major factors hindering the growth of the industry, he said lack of production quality, inconsistent supply of raw material and scarcity of modern technology were impediments.

He suggested strengthening Pakistan Stone Development Company (PASDEC) to fill in the missing chains in the marble industry. Naveed said Pakistan has abolished import duties on all quarrying and processing machinery to facilitate foreign investments, inviting China to explore the sector. “The global market for marble and granite is estimated at around $62 billion, but Pakistan’s share is below 1%.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 11^th, 2018.

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