Gwadar Port Free Zone
During Premier Li Keqiang's visit to Pakistan in May 2013, China and Pakistan agreed to build the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor to promote energy and transportation infrastructure development, among other projects. During President Xi Jinping's visit in April 2015, closer bilateral cooperation was again highlighted. A key element of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and an essential component of the Gwadar Port development project, the free zone aims to improve trade logistics, facilitate processing trade, and promote warehousing and financial services.
According to the project plan, the free zone will occupy an area of 923 hectares and be developed in four phases. The first phase opened for operation in January 2018. The China Overseas Ports Holding Ltd. had invested nearly US$250 million and built a 25-acre modern industrial park complete with roads, water pipes, electricity, communications, security fence and waste disposal facilities. More than 30 Chinese and Pakistani enterprises have moved in, with 3 billion yuan of direct investment. These include hotel, bank, insurance, financial leasing, logistics, overseas warehousing, grain and oil processing, aquatic product processing, and home appliances assembly. Their yearly output value will exceed 5 billion yuan once they all come into operation.
The free zone will be modeled after the Shekou Industrial Zone in Shenzhen, China, comprising a port, an industrial park, and residential and business areas. Once completed, the free zone will spur economic growth in Balochistan and the rest of Pakistan.
瓜达尔港自由区
2013年5月，在李克强总理出访巴基斯坦过程中，双方同意共同建设“中巴经济走廊”，开展能源、交通基建等多个方面的合作。2015年4月，习近平主席出访巴基斯坦，进一步推进两国合作事宜。作为“中巴经济走廊”重点项目之一和瓜达尔港开发项目的重要组成部分，瓜达尔港自由区将以港口为依托，重点发展商贸物流、加工贸易、仓储和金融等产业。根据建设规划，瓜达尔港自由区总占地面积约为923公顷，分四期进行建设。一期项目（起步区）已于2018年1月举行开园仪式。中国海外港口控股有限公司投入近2.5亿美元，在短短一年之内完成了面积25英亩，集合路、水、电、通讯、安全围网、垃圾处理等功能的现代园区建设。目前，酒店、银行、保险公司、金融租赁、物流、海外仓、粮油加工、渔业加工、家电组装等30多家中、巴企业已入驻园区，直接投资额超过30亿人民币。入驻企业全部投产后，年产值将超过50亿人民币。瓜达尔港自由区将采用类似深圳蛇口的建设模式，形成一个包括“港口+园区+城区”的综合体。建成后的瓜达尔港自由区将带动俾路支省乃至巴基斯坦全国的整体发展。
