2023 China-South Asia Business Council Working Meeting
August 17, 2023, Kunming, China
The 2023 China-South Asia Business Council Working Meeting, held on August 17, 2023 was organized by China South Asia Business Council Yunnan Liaison office and hosted by China Chamber of International Commerce and SCCI. The meeting highlighted the success of the 16th CSABF and drove discussions on key priorities, implementation, and institutional mechanisms. Furthermore, it declared the rotating chair country for the 17th China-South Asia Business Forum.
In her warm welcome address, Ms. Bao Wentao, Deputy Chairperson of CCPIT, extended her heartfelt gratitude to the distinguished delegates and SCCI for their invaluable contributions to making the 16th CSABF an unmitigated success. She also expressed her unwavering optimism regarding the continued collaboration between our organizations, which is poised to flourish and significantly contribute to the further enhancement of trade, investment, and the overall economic relations between China and South Asia.
During the meeting, Pakistan was graciously offered the honor of chairing next year’s China-South Asia Business Forum (CSABF).
President SCCI, Md. Jashim Uddin stated that the two decades following the establishment of the China-South Asia Business Forum have witnessed remarkable efforts. He further underscored the substantial growth in Sino-SAARC trade following the establishment of the China-South Asia Business Forum. To further this progress, he proposed enhancing CCPIT and SCCI roles to cater to evolving China-SAARC needs. This includes boosting industrial cooperation, promoting economic growth drivers, and strengthening supply chains for increased resilience.
Mr. Zulfiqar Butt, Secretary General, SCCI, emphasized the need for the allocation of 200 booths at Expo 2023 for SCCI. It was underscored that such an allocation is pivotal in strengthening the active participation and representation of the South Asian business community.
In his address, Mr. Mostofa Azad Chowdhury Babu, former Senior Vice President, BCCI, expressed his heartfelt gratitude to CCPIT, SCCI, and the People’s Government of Yunnan Province for their collaborative initiatives. He further shared that the Government of Bangladesh is developing 100 Special Economic Zones, High-tech and tourism parks which offer attractive returns for potential investors. We need support from China for more investment to strengthen economic links for industrial capacity development and technology transfer in key sectors including energy and electricity, transportation, agriculture, finance, etc, added Mr. Mostofa.
Mr. Keerthi Gunawardane, President, FCCISL stated that Sri Lanka’s socio-economic relations with China and other countries in South Asia have been steady and friendly throughout the history. By further deepening economic ties and establishing closer trade links, South Asian countries can work towards creating a more cohesive and interconnected regional market and foster greater regional integration within South Asia resulting in ease of movement of goods, capital, and people within the region, promote economic cooperation, and strengthen regional stability.
Further to the discussion, Mr. Irfan Iqbal, President, FPCCI shared that FPCCI is in the process of preparing an extensive research report focused on Pakistan’s role in trade cooperation between China and the SAARC region. This forthcoming report is anticipated to provide valuable insights and recommendations, acting as a guiding resource for our collaborative endeavours.
Ms. Shaira Saleem, Vice Chairperson, SCWEC (Maldives) underscored the monumental significance of the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge, which connects the capital city, Male, to the airport island, Hulhule. This remarkable infrastructure project has had an overwhelmingly positive impact on the Maldivian economy, with its immediate effects being nothing short of transformative.
Trade between Maldives and China has witnessed substantial growth over the years, with the most significant surge occurring in the past two decades. Today, China stands as one of the most favored and prominent trading partners for Maldivian businessmen, added Ms. Saleem.
