China-Pakistan Economic Corridor—Balochistan Province Opportunity Conference was held on September 7thin Karachi. The conference was organized by The Balochistan Economic Forum and Acting Consul General Mu Yongpeng, Advisor to the Chief Minister Balochistan Sardar Dur Muhammad Nasar, President of Balochistan Economic Forum Sardar Shoukat Popalzai attended the conference. More than 100 Chinese and Pakistani investors and delegates as well as officials from Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority and Pakistan Railways attended the conference. Zhang Baozhong, chairman of China Overseas Port Holding Company (COPHC)was invited to give a presentation on the conference.

Zhang B aozhong informed the audience that COPHC has already invested millions of dollars to renovate port facilities since 2013 and now the port has improved to its full capacity. Infrastructures and public facilities including International airport, East Bay expressway, power plant and desalination plant will be completed in the very near future. Now the construction work in Free Zone phaseⅠhas started and three companies have already signed the investment agreement and got the business license. Besides, there have been a number of companies which have signed MOU with COPHC. Many investors and delegates in the forum showed strong interest to invest in Gwadar.

The business promotion of Gwadar Free Zone has been started and the first edition of investment guide has been officially issued. The Free Zone will develop into four phases. PhaseⅠwill be trade and logistic zone based on the port and PhaseⅡ,Ⅲ,Ⅳ will develop into manufacturing zone, focusing mainly on agriculture processing, fish processing, marble processing, halal food processing, and refrigerated storage/cold chain. There will be container yards for warehousing of international purchasing, transit/distribution, packing/labeling, stuffing & de-stuffing, trans-shipment, light end-assembly/re-assembly, and supporting services for value added exports. To provide one window solution there will be financial services assistance for the investors.