Proton to build assembly plant in Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: National carmaker Proton will collaborate with Pakistani partner Alhaj Automotive to establish a manufacturing assembly plant in Pakistan, its first in South Asia region. This is based on an agreement signed last year said Malaysia High Commissioner to Pakistan Ikram Mohammad Ibrahim.
“Proton felt the potential for its cars in Pakistan is huge, which led to its partnership with Alhaj Automotive to establish an assembly plant near Karachi in Sindh province.
“This is significant because it will be Proton’s first (assembly) plant in South Asia because the population of Pakistan is 210 million,” he told the media at the high commission here.
Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his Pakistani counterpart Imran Khan are expected to witness the symbolic groundbreaking ceremony of Proton’s plant tomorrow.
Mahathir begins his three-day official visit to Pakistan today.
According to Ikram, the construction of the car plant is an important element of bilateral trade and investment relationship between the two countries as Proton was Mahathir’s brainchild during his first tenure as prime minister.
He said the two leaders would also discuss efforts to increase trade relations between the countries.
Last year, total trade between Malaysia and Pakistan stood at RM5.91 billion, an increase of 2.5% compared to RM5.76 billion in 2017.
Pakistan is Malaysia’s third largest trading partner in South Asia.
Ikram said Pakistan is Malaysia’s largest export market in South Asia and the third for import destination.
“In terms of bilateral trade, Malaysia is Pakistan’s 16th largest trading partner last year,” he said. In terms of investment, Malaysia is Pakistan’s third largest foreign investor behind China and the UK for the financial year 2017/2018, according to statistics provided by the State Bank of Pakistan, he added.
