Pakistani Firms Eye Opportunities at China-South Asia Expo

July 26 – Pakistani firms eye opportunities at the 8th China-South Asia Expo as they are eager to explore trade avenues.

During the 8th China-South Asia Expo being held from Tuesday to Sunday, Pakistan has emerged as a key participant. The event attracted numerous Pakistani buyers and sellers, who were eager to explore new trade opportunities and form collaborative ventures in China.

The Pakistani export delegation featured a diverse range of products across 140 booths and a themed exhibition area covering 360 square meters, showcasing sectors such as agriculture and handicrafts. Over 70 professional buyers and importers registered for the expo, showing a strong interest in Chinese high-tech products, particularly in electronics, information technology, clean energy, new materials, and artificial intelligence (AI).

“My primary focus at the expo will be on Chinese computer equipment. I’m here to seek technological partnerships that will enable us to bring advanced technology back to Pakistan,” Masqood Qureshi, a Pakistani buyer, told the Global Times on Thursday.

The expo was a bustling hub of activity, attracting traders from South and Southeast Asia who were particularly interested in Chinese high-tech products. The wide array of products, from AI models and new-energy solutions to unmanned coffee kiosks and traditional Chinese medicine, received positive feedback from international buyers.

Drones from DJI and bionic robots from EXrobots were among the highlights, drawing significant interest from foreign buyers. Additionally, industry leaders like Yuntianhua Group, State Power Investment Corp, and China Resources Holding Co were present at the expo to explore collaboration opportunities.

The efficient transportation between China and Pakistan was also praised, as these services facilitate China-Pakistan trade. “With the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, goods no longer need to be shipped via the Strait of Malacca but can be transported overland, greatly reducing transportation time and costs,” Qureshi noted.

The vibrant trade scene at the expo also countered some Western media criticisms of China’s “overcapacity” in new-energy products.

“China has already started collaborating with Pakistan in the new-energy sector, but we are hoping to expand further in this area,” another Pakistani buyer told the Global Times.

“I am looking forward to purchasing new-energy technology products at the China-South Asia Expo,” Pakistani businessman Anique Mansab Chaudhry told the Xinhua News Agency. He emphasized that his main goal at the expo was to acquire photovoltaic modules, inverters, and high-efficiency energy storage batteries to improve his company’s efficiency and customer satisfaction.

Officials and business representatives from other countries also expressed their desire for further cooperation with China, especially in emerging sectors.

“China and Nigeria have already started many collaborative efforts in the new-energy sector, but we hope for more Chinese investment in Nigeria, particularly in batteries, solar energy, wind turbines, and natural gas,” Hassan Mohammed, a deputy trade commissioner of the Nigerian consulate in Shanghai, told the Global Times.