ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and China on Monday agreed to overhaul their investment coordination mechanism under CPEC Phase-II, introducing a structured ‘matchmaking’ system aimed at directly linking Chinese investors with viable industrial projects in Pakistan to accelerate actual investment inflows.
The new arrangement will require the Board of Investment (BoI) to share project details in advance with the Chinese Embassy, while the embassy will respond with a curated list of potential Chinese investors, a step both sides said would improve targeting, reduce information gaps and strengthen project-to-investor alignment.
The understanding was reached during a meeting between Federal Minister for Board of Investment Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh and Chinese Counsellor Yang Guangyuan held here, where officials reviewed the next phase of cooperation under CPEC.
Both sides emphasised that while multiple Chinese delegations continue to visit Pakistan, the key challenge remains converting interest into concrete industrial investment. They agreed that closer institutional coordination is now essential to ensure more effective outcomes under CPEC Phase-II.
Qaiser Sheikh said the enhanced coordination framework would help attract Chinese private-sector investment in manufacturing and industrial development, particularly through Special Economic Zones (SEZs), which remain central to Pakistan’s industrial growth strategy.
Guangyuan said closing the information gap is key to attracting Chinese investment, noting that while delegations frequently visit Pakistan, conversions into actual projects remain limited. He said closer coordination between the Board of Investment and the Chinese Embassy is needed to improve investor linkages and awareness. He also stressed that all investment commitments must be honoured to maintain confidence, adding that Embassy-endorsed projects carry greater credibility for Chinese investors.
