To discuss the mutually beneficial areas of collaboration, a three member delegation from Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) called on the Chief Executive Officer PBIT, Ms. Amena Cheema today at PBIT head office. Delegation members included, Mr. Edmund Chen Yu (General Manager of ICBC Lahore branch), Mr. Baron Yuan Baoxin (Deputy General Manager ICBC Lahore Branch) Ahmad Tariq (Relationship Manager, ICBC)
CEO PBIT apprised the ICBC delegation about ongoing developmental projects in Punjab in a range of sectors including agriculture, construction, energy, infrastructure and mining. She emphasised that “under the leadership of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Punjab was on the verge of an economic take-off”. She further maintained that “While China and Pakistan have truly exemplary relations in every respect, there is still considerable room to further expand bilateral economic cooperation.”
The ICBC delegation informed CEO PBIT that their bank was fully committed to promoting business relations between Pakistan and China. The delegates expressed the desire for greater information sharing between ICBC and PBIT on specific investment opportunities in Punjab which could then be passed on to potential Chinese investors. CEO PBIT assured the delegation that PBIT would provide complete facilitation in that regard. It was decided that teams from ICBC and PBIT would meet at least once every month to exchange information and swap ideas on areas for future collaboration.
CEO PBIT also suggested that the possibility of ICBC support in the creation of a Punjab-China Fund also be explored. The ICBC delegation expressed their interest in the proposal and agreed to engage in further discussions on it.
CEO PBIT also congratulated ICBC on its forthcoming fifth anniversary of opening up its first office in Pakistan.