A Chinese company is set to establish a food processing unit in Gwadar, a move expected to accelerate the city’s transformation into a regional trade and industrial hub. The project, part of the Gwadar Free Trade Zone, will focus on export-based production and is projected to create hundreds of jobs, attract foreign investment, and strengthen small-scale industries across Balochistan.
At a joint press briefing, Gwadar Port Authority Chairman Noor ul Haq Baloch and Henggeng Trade Company CEO Andy Liao announced that the Chinese company’s food processing unit in Gwadar will be the first in a series of industrial initiatives planned for the port city. According to officials, the project will lay the groundwork for a new phase of economic cooperation between Pakistan and China, particularly under the framework of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
In the first phase, Henggeng Trade Company will set up a donkey meat processing and export facility to promote the local cottage industry. The initiative aims to support associated sectors such as salt production, packaging, and transport services, enhancing value-added trade opportunities for local businesses.
Although donkey farming exists in other parts of Pakistan, it remains underdeveloped in Balochistan. Establishing breeding and farming units in Gwadar will ensure a sustainable feed supply and diversify rural income sources. Officials believe the project could help integrate local producers into global export markets while ensuring economic inclusion for smaller enterprises.
The development of this Chinese company’s food processing unit in Gwadar is being hailed as a key step toward realising Gwadar’s long-term vision as a thriving industrial and logistics hub, strengthening investor confidence and boosting regional trade connectivity.
Related stories:
China, HRL Ink Deal to Boost Industrial Cooperation
Pakistan, Turkiye Boost Maritime Cooperation, Gwadar Investments
