ISLAMABAD: Shandong Xinxu Group Corporation of China has proposed setting up an Integrated Maritime Industrial Complex in Pakistan, marking a potential leap in bilateral cooperation in shipbuilding, port development, and the blue economy.
The proposal was tabled during a meeting in Beijing between Maritime Affairs Minister Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry and senior executives of the Chinese group. The minister welcomed the initiative and invited the firm to consider joint ventures with the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) in leasing and feeder services linked to Gwadar port. He also proposed collaboration on dry and floating dock facilities at Gwadar and Port Qasim, as well as EU-certified fish processing and aquaculture ventures to expand seafood exports.
Mr Chaudhry assured Shandong Xinxu of Pakistan’s support in providing land, utilities, and regulatory approvals, stressing that any ship recycling facilities must comply with the Hong Kong Convention and EU environmental standards.
In separate meetings, the minister also engaged officials from Tianjin Dongjiang Comprehensive Free Trade Zone (TDFTPZ), China’s leading shipping and logistics hub, to explore ship financing and leasing solutions for Aframax tankers, container vessels, and bulk carriers. He urged Chinese investors to develop bonded warehouses, cold chain facilities, and bulk cargo handling infrastructure in Gwadar, while highlighting the concept of a China–Gwadar–Africa logistics corridor.
Talks with FANJIEYUN International, a frozen food and meat importer, focused on turning Gwadar into a logistics hub with bonded warehousing, trans-shipment facilities, and feeder vessel services. The minister also proposed a feasibility study for a freight hub operation at the port.
Mr Chaudhry’s visit to China, part of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s delegation, underscores Islamabad’s push to attract foreign investment and transform Gwadar into a regional trade and logistics gateway.
Story by Kalbe Ali
