Beijing ( Web News )
Companies from Pakistan and China have signed memorandums of understanding (MOUs) worth approximately $250 million to promote trade in the medical and surgical sectors. According to official media, Pakistan’s Sawuat Surgical, a manufacturer of dental and surgical instruments, has signed MOUs with the Chinese pharmaceutical company UPH Biopharma.
As per a report by China Economic Net (CEN), the purpose of this collaboration is to establish joint ventures with more Chinese companies in the field of medical equipment. The Pakistani embassy in Beijing also confirmed that three MOUs worth $250 million were signed during the conference.
The embassy stated that, in collaboration with the Board of Investment (BOI), six business-to-business (B2B) conferences were held, focusing on investment partnerships in the medical sector between Pakistan and China. Over 80 Chinese companies, associations, and more than 20 Pakistani companies participated in person or online.
On this occasion, Pakistani diplomat Khalil Hashmi highlighted the growing potential of the medical industry in Pakistan, stating that the market potential exceeds $600 million. According to a statement released by the embassy, Khalil Hashmi announced that the Fourth Health, Engineering, and Minerals Show will be held in Lahore from April 17 to 19, 2025, with a special focus on medical and surgical equipment.
According to CEN, the conference was the first in a series of seven B2B events that were held following Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to China last June. Another seven such conferences are expected to take place next month. During Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to China, agreements were made on 32 MOUs to promote trade and investment. In September 2024, Chinese companies signed various MOUs with their Pakistani counterparts during a conference, where more than 25 major Chinese companies expressed strong interest in making substantial investments in Pakistan.
In December, Chinese and Pakistani diplomats signed MOUs for five projects in transport, health, energy, and agriculture with the cooperation of the Sindh government. Sun Yang, Chief Technology Officer of the Silk Road Assistance Platform, stated that Pakistan’s large market, tax incentives, and harmonized standards with Europe provide Pakistan a competitive advantage for investment. Sun Yang further stated that with Chinese cooperation, Pakistan’s medical industry can be further developed. He mentioned that while Pakistan excels in medical equipment, there is room for improvement in areas like imaging documentation.
He also added that Chinese technology could help Pakistan build its brand and increase its participation in the global value chain. According to Muhammad Shahbaz, President of the China Pakistan Medical Association, plans are underway to establish the China Pakistan Friendship Hospital in Islamabad and a joint medical technology park in Pakistan.