ISLAMABAD, 12 November 2021 (TDI): On Wednesday, Guanghze Chen, the World Bank’s South Asia Regional Director for Infrastructure, met with Syed Ali Haider Zaidi, the Federal Minister of Maritime Affairs, in Islamabad, to address issues of mutual concern.
World Bank South Asia Regional Director for Infrastructure, Mr. Guanghze Chen along with Senior level World Bank officers called on Federal Minister Maritime Affairs Syed Ali Haider Zaidi in his office in Islamabad today.@AliHZaidiPTI @WorldBankSAsia pic.twitter.com/7mEZfafEf9
— Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Govt of Pakistan (@MaritimeGovPK) November 10, 2021
Rizwan Ahmed, the Secretary of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, and Zahid Masood, the Joint Secretary, were also present.
Guanghze Chen offered assistance to increase the efficiency of ports and logistics.
The minister promised to improve port efficiency and identified key areas where the World Bank’s assistance may be extremely beneficial.
The minister informed Chen about Pakistan’s growth challenges and the work that is being done while expressing his vision for the Blue Economy.
The federal minister also highlighted the significance of the Central Asia-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in the area, which connects Central Asian republics to Pakistani ports and provides them with access to vast markets.
Pakistan, according to the minister, is on its way to becoming a Maritime Power, and the collaboration with China is critical to accomplishing that aim.
Guanghze Chen acknowledged that CPEC has the potential to benefit Pakistan’s maritime sector, and underlined the importance of ensuring that the infrastructural development that comes with CPEC is fully utilised.
Syed Ali Haider Zaidi expressed gratitude for the World Bank’s assistance.
