BEIJING: A significant milestone in Pakistan-China trade relations was marked on Sunday as the China National Textile and Apparel Council (CNTAC) and Pakistan’s Board of Investment (BOI) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) at the 2024 China Textile Conference in Keqiao, Shaoxing.
The agreement aims to establish a textile industry park in Pakistan, a move that is expected to foster trade relations, facilitate technology transfer, and enhance industrial capacity. The signing ceremony highlights China’s focus on upgrading its textile industry, which is currently undergoing major transformations driven by science, technology, sustainability, and fashion trends.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to China, Khalil Hashmi, addressed the conference, emphasizing the importance of the MoU for strengthening the bilateral trade framework between the two countries. “This is a historic MoU that will lay the foundation for developing textile parks in Pakistan. It will enhance bilateral trade, foster technology transfer, and bolster the capabilities of our textile sector,” he stated.
The conference brought together leaders to discuss key topics including “Innovation Environment, Materials, Artificial Intelligence, and Production Processes” as part of the global transformation of the textile industry. The discussions focused on promoting innovation and the optimization of the global textile supply chain.
Ambassador Hashmi further noted, “Pakistan was given the exclusive privilege of being the only foreign participant at the annual China Textile Conference. The signing of this MoU, along with the participation of key Pakistani textile industry representatives, highlights the potential for fruitful collaboration between Pakistan and China in the textile and apparel sector.”
The textile industry is a critical pillar of Pakistan’s economy, contributing significantly to exports. Pakistan is the second-largest global supplier of cotton cloth and the fifth-largest exporter of cotton, offering unmatched potential for collaboration in the sector. With its strategic location, skilled workforce, and vertical integration, Pakistan presents an ideal partner for Chinese textile enterprises.
