Sost Pakistan Customs and Chinese trucks Photo By Anthony Maw, Vancouver, Canada via Wikimedia Commons
Britain is the latest major country to express readiness to join multi-billion dollars China Pakistan Economic Corridor – widely considered to be a game-changer in terms of regional trade expansion and connectivity.
In recent months, a number of regional powers including Russia, Central Asian and European countries have shown their interest in being part of the $ 54 billion project which would stimulate investment and economic activity across a range of areas and open up new possibilities for trades between and among regions including the Gulf, Central Asia, China and South Asia.
UK’s Minister of State for International Trade Greg Hands, on Wednesday, had expressed Britain’s readiness for CPEC during a business round-table in Islamabad.
“Britain is a country of global influence and can be an important partner for China and Pakistan in the delivery of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor which has the potential to build closer links between our countries,” said the UK minister.
Other participants in the round-table included experts from City UK, RUSI and the China Britain Business Council. HSBC, Deloitte and Standard Chartered also discussed how they and other British firms could support the delivery of CPEC.
Pakistan has warmly welcomed Britain’s desire to become a key partner in China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
According to the Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms Ahsan Iqbal, several other countries in the European Union (EU) and Central Asian Republics were also evincing keen interest in the mega project, apart from the UK.
He said that their inclination towards the project proves that CPEC was not restricted only to Pakistan and China, but has a greater regional impact that will promote connectivity in the region and beyond.
Besides improving the image of Pakistan across the world through economic activity, work under the massive project will make the country a manufacturing and commerce hub, hoped the minister.
Iqbal reiterated that the establishment of economic zones under CPEC would boost economic growth and help create job opportunities in the country
