BEIJING – There is immense potential for digital trade between Pakistan andChina as the former is actually moving towards digitalization, and theChina International Fair for Trade in Service (CIFTIS) provides anopportunity for the BRI countries to really look into the prospect, saidDeputy Chief of Mission (DCM) of Pakistan to China, Ahmed Farooq.
CIFTIS held from September 5 to 9 is the largest comprehensive exhibitionin the field of global trade in services in China. The event organizedunder the background of global economic recovery is meant to provideopportunities for international businesses together online and offline andfacilitate cooperation.
Addressing at a session of Belt and Road Digital Trade under the fair,Ahmed said the CIFTIS is conducive to restoring economic vitality,improving trade connectivity, and facilitating the development of digitaltrade in the region.
Highlighting digital development in Pakistan, Ahmed told China Economic Net(CEN), it holds a bright future especially in the post-pandemic era whenoffline business is undermined and online becomes the trend.
The size of the population is very critical to digitalization as well.Pakistan is a country with 220 million people and around two-thirds of thepopulation is below 30 years old, an energetic group always interested innew things and more adaptable to transformation.
The society as a whole is also taking incremental steps to accept thosechanges brought about by digitalization, including e-commerce, digitalpayment, online education, etc.
Read Top Stories
Besides, the government is also keen on promoting the Digital Pakistanpolicy, in view of millions of new jobs expected to be created fromeconomic growth due to digitalization.Pakistan also has immense potential for developing tourism. With thepotential of China’s outbound tourism and the special bond between Pakistanand China, there will be plenty of cooperation opportunities between thetwo countries after the epidemic, Ahmed said. Blessed with diversifiedgeography from snow-clad mountains to deserts to the uncharted sea,Pakistan is home to 108 peaks above 7,000 meters, as well as more than a1000 km long serene coastline with sandy and sunny beaches.
Pakistan is honored with historical sites of Indus Valley civilization thatcan trace back to 4000 years ago and preserves hundreds of Buddhistheritage sites. Be it digitalization of Pakistan or tourism, CPEC willcontinue to play a part in driving their development as it did in theinfrastructure sector, Ahmed noted.
CPEC is moving towards the second phase with a human-centric approach, andthe areas of food security, vocational training, job creation, and healthsector and others are expected to improve the well-being of the people.
