Quetta: President of Gwadar Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Jeehund Hoth, on Thursday said that the establishment of a seafood value chain would provide new opportunities for local fishermen and the business community, increase employment, and boost domestic exports.
He said that, as part of the Balochistan government’s policy to promote investment and industrial and commercial activities and strengthen the country’s economy, efforts were underway to develop Gwadar into an important hub for seafood processing, value addition and exports.
President GCCI made these remarks during a meeting with Bin Bin Yang, Vice President of China’s leading food supply chain group, Optimize Integration Group (OIG). The meeting discussed opportunities for investment in Gwadar, seafood processing, cold-chain infrastructure, food logistics, and direct access to the Chinese market.
Secretary General of Gwadar Chamber Khalid Saif was also present in the meeting.
According to Gwadar Chamber of Commerce and Industry spokesperson Sajid Bin Rahim, Jeehund Hoth said that developing Gwadar not only as a port but also as an integrated center for production, processing, value addition, trade and exports could create new opportunities for local and foreign investors.
He said that Balochistan’s vast marine resources could be increased by connecting them with modern fish processing, freezing, cold storage, quality packaging and refrigerated logistics to increase exports to global, especially Chinese, markets.
He said that he invited Chinese investors and business entities to invest in the seafood, cold chain, food processing and logistics sectors in Gwadar, saying that the establishment of a seafood value chain would provide new opportunities for local fishermen and business community, increase employment and boost domestic exports.
The meeting also reviewed the possibilities of promoting trade relations between Gwadar and China and progressing on new investment projects in collaboration with the private sector.