Chinese companies asked to invest in solar power generation

BEIJING: Pakistan has asked Chinese companies to invest in solar power generation to overcome the energy shortages in the country.

Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal called on various Chinese representatives on his 3-day trip to China as part of celebrations on the tenth anniversary of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Today he met with the Chairman of China Apollo Holding Group Chen Diming and China Ocean Engineering Construction Company senior representative Xu Hao.

The minister appreciated the companies’ long-standing partnership with Pakistan and their interest in Pakistan’s solar power sector.

He underscored the importance of energy projects which have enabled Pakistan to overcome its energy shortages and urged them to invest in solar power generation.

The establishment of solar manufacturing plants in Pakistan will achieve better efficiency and wider distribution of cheaper electricity, Iqbal said.

The minister also briefed the Chinese representatives on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s “solar energy initiative” for which foreign investors were offered special incentives, and invited them to benefit from this new policy by setting up their regional engineering design centres in Pakistan and employing local skilled professionals.

ZTE Corporation Vice President ZTE Corporation was also present in the meetings. ZTE, a telecommunications company, has already established its offices, software centres, and training centres in different cities in Pakistan.

Iqbal said that this has “enabled Pakistan to gain from the company’s experience and technology, both in hardware and software, which will add value to Pakistan’s IT sector’s development”.

The minister is on his Beijing trip until July 12, during which he is leading Pakistan’s delegation to CPEC’s 12th Joint Cooperation Committee meeting. During these meetings he is reviewing CPEC’s progress and holding further bilateral talks with China.