Gwadar Free Zone phase II pioneering bio-economy

GWADAR, Sept. 4 (Gwadar Pro)-A new era of bio-economy empowered by the pharmacy industry, animal husbandry and livestock development is in the making in Gwadar Free Zone Phase II. 

Gwadar Free Zone Phase II (also called northern part of the Gwadar Free Zone) currently houses two under-construction factories relating to agribusiness and bio economy. These factories belong to Agven and Hangeng. Agven deals in fertilizer import, processing and manufacturing. Hangeng, with a wide array of business scope in over 10 countries, plans to have two branches in Gwadar Free Zone: Hangeng trade Co (SMC-PVT); Ltd and Yuanhua industrial Co. 

Hangeng Trading Co., Ltd. will encourage the cultivation and purchase of agricultural products such as aloe vera in the surrounding areas of Gwadar, and also import pharmaceutical raw materials from all over the world for deep processing in the Gwadar Free Zone and export to China. Whereas, Yuanhua Industrial Co., Ltd. will be mainly engaged in animal husbandry and livestock development. The finished products will be further processed to manufacture pharmaceutical products. 

“Upon operation, which is expected to take place by June 2023, 1,000 direct employment and 3000 indirect employment opportunities will be created for the locals”, said Liao Longtai, General Manager of Hangeng. Hangeng believes to explore a sustainable development model of "combining local government support and forming industrialization to enhance value and increasing people's breeding income", allowing local people to develop livestock breeding, and live a better life away from poverty”, he added. 

The multinational corporation aspires to invest 20 million US dollars in the next 3 years. The first cluster of consignment from South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya has reached Karachi Port from where it will be shipped to Gwadar Port for value addition.

It has already acquired 10 acres of land in Northern Free Zone, of which 7 acres of land will be used for production workshops, cold storage, livestock breeding area and warehouses.

Hangeng envisions to build an industrial ecosystem in Gwadar. Once completed, it will create a comprehensive and vibrant economic framework. Under its medium term plan, Hangeng intends to establish aquaculture, medical treatment and technical support facilities for the locals. For this purpose, experts and professionals from China will be hired to impart technical skills to the local youth in the field of animal husbandry and livestock and aloe vera plantation. In the second phase, their services will be required for aloe vera cultivation by Hangeng. The skilled labor will be recruited to fill the industry’s manpower gap.  

Furthermore, an animal husbandry breeding hospital will be established that will provide free medical and technical services to the common people. 

As per Hangeng’s 2024 plan, it will develop aloe vera planting bases, provide excellent imported varieties, guide and train aloe cultivation technicians, and engage in aloe processing. Aloe pulp is used to boil medical aloe vera gel, while tailings can be used for animal feed.

The execution of the proposed plan will enrich the knowledge of talents in agriculture and animal husbandry industry. Moreover, the application of modern technology can help Pakistan replace the traditional labor-intensive work with a smarter technique and more efficient output.