Pakistan’s First BRI Excellence Centre Inaugurated in Gujranwala

Gujranwala: Pakistan’s first Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Excellence Centre has been inaugurated in Gujranwala to promote economic, educational, technological and industrial cooperation between Pakistan and China. Chinese Consul General Sun Yang formally inaugurated the centre at a ceremony held at the GBA Tower.

The BRI Excellence Centre is a joint initiative of the Gujranwala Business Alliance (GBA), GIFT University and the Diplomatic Insight Group (DIG). The centre aims to translate the vision of the Belt and Road Initiative into practical opportunities in trade, investment, education, technology, industrial innovation and cultural cooperation.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by Chairman GBA Ahmad Ikram Lone, Chairman GIFT University Muhammad Anwar Dar, Chinese Vice Consul Wang Yaqiang, Consular Attaché Li Yining, Senior Vice Chairman GBA Umar Mahmood, Vice Chairman GBA Khawaja Shariq Kaleem, President Gujranwala Women Chamber Yasmeen Dad, Vice President Maryam Sohail and prominent figures from the industrial, business and education sectors.

The BRI Excellence Centre will facilitate links between Gujranwala’s industrial, business and educational institutions and major Chinese public and private companies, government institutions, trade organisations, universities, technology companies, development agencies and international BRI organisations.

Addressing the ceremony, Chinese Consul General Sun Yang said that the friendship between Pakistan and China was not limited to diplomatic relations but was based on strong ties between the people, businesses, educational institutions and industrial sectors of the two countries. He said the establishment of the BRI Excellence Centre would play an important role in strengthening institutional and people-to-people ties between Pakistan and China.

Sun Yang said the Belt and Road Initiative was an effective platform for international cooperation based on shared development, economic connectivity and mutual benefit. He described Pakistan as a longstanding and trusted partner in the initiative and said China wanted to further expand high-quality cooperation between the two countries.

The Chinese Consul General said Gujranwala was an important industrial city of Pakistan and the BRI Excellence Centre would provide its industrialists, businesses, students, researchers and young people with new opportunities for cooperation with China. He appreciated the efforts of the Gujranwala Business Alliance, GIFT University and Diplomatic Insight Group in establishing the centre.

Chairman Gujranwala Business Alliance Ahmad Ikram Lone said Pakistan’s first BRI Excellence Centre would serve as an important gateway for connecting Gujranwala with China and more than 150 BRI partner countries. He said Gujranwala had enormous industrial potential, a strong business base and significant export capacity.

He said the centre would connect Gujranwala’s industries directly with major Chinese public and private companies, technology institutions, trade organisations, universities and development partners.

Ahmad Ikram Lone said Chinese machinery, industrial components, raw materials, production systems, supply chains and technology had already played an important role in Gujranwala’s industrial development. The BRI Excellence Centre, he added, would take this relationship to a new level through technology transfer, smart manufacturing, joint ventures, export partnerships and the development of a skilled workforce.

He said the Gujranwala Business Alliance was working to transform the city from a major manufacturing centre into a globally connected industrial powerhouse, adding that the BRI Excellence Centre represented a historic milestone in this effort.

Chairman GIFT University Muhammad Anwar Dar said the BRI Excellence Centre presented an effective new model of cooperation between industry, universities and diplomatic institutions. He said universities should not remain confined to education but should also play a leading role in industrial, economic and social development.

He said the centre would provide students, faculty members, researchers and young entrepreneurs with access to Chinese knowledge, culture, technology, research partnerships and international opportunities.

Muhammad Anwar Dar said GIFT University was committed to equipping young people with future-oriented skills and connecting them with the practical needs of industry. The BRI Excellence Centre, he added, would serve as a strong platform for academic cooperation, research, innovation, entrepreneurship and technology transfer.

The ceremony was informed that the partnership between GBA, GIFT University and Diplomatic Insight Group had already resulted in the establishment of nine international growth windows with different countries, an AI Excellence Centre, the Gujranwala Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Pakistan Products House and several other platforms focused on trade, technology, entrepreneurship and international cooperation.

Participants described the establishment of Pakistan’s first BRI Excellence Centre as a significant step towards promoting industrial innovation, youth development, women’s economic empowerment, technology and global trade in Gujranwala. They also appreciated the visionary leadership and joint efforts of Ahmad Ikram Lone and Muhammad Anwar Dar in bringing industry, academia and international partners closer together.