GUJRANWALA: A new BRI Excellence Centre has been inaugurated at GIFT University in Gujranwala, with the initiative designed to connect Pakistani businesses, students and startups with Chinese markets, technology, investment and academic opportunities.
The centre is a joint initiative of Diplomatic Insight Group (DIG), GIFT University and the Gujranwala Business Alliance (GBA) and was formally inaugurated on Thursday by Sun Yan, Consul General of China in Lahore.
The initiative comes during the 75th year of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China and follows renewed focus on CPEC 2.0, including cooperation in industry, agriculture and mining.
Speaking at the ceremony, Sun Yan described the centre as a timely initiative that could further strengthen academic and industrial exchanges between the two countries.
The project is intended to bring Belt and Road cooperation closer to local businesses and educational institutions by combining academia, industry and diplomacy in one platform.
Dr. Farhat Asif, Chairperson of Diplomatic Insight Group, said the centre would aim to help Pakistani businesses explore Chinese markets while giving students opportunities to learn Mandarin and better understand contemporary China.
She said startups could also use the platform to connect with Chinese technology and investment, while Chinese institutions would have an avenue to identify credible partners in Gujranwala’s industrial sector.
The centre will operate across six areas: a BRI Trade and Investment Centre, Chinese Language and Cultural Centre, AI and Digital Innovation Centre, EV and Green Technology Centre, BRI Research and Policy Institute, and Entrepreneurship and Startup Centre.
Muhammad Anwar Dar, Chairman of GIFT University, said the initiative was aligned with the university’s objective of helping students move beyond conventional education and develop entrepreneurial opportunities.
Gujranwala is one of Pakistan’s major manufacturing hubs and contributes significantly to the country’s exports, particularly in sectors such as surgical instruments and cutlery.
According to information shared at the event, the city accounts for roughly 40% of Pakistan’s surgical instrument exports and 30% of cutlery exports.
Despite lying along the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor route, speakers said Gujranwala had lacked a structured Chinese institutional platform of this kind.
Ahmad Ikram Lone, Chairman of the Gujranwala Business Alliance, said the inauguration marked a new phase of Pakistan-China cooperation in the region.
He described the centre as a first-of-its-kind initiative in the area, with a focus on trade, technology, education and culture.
The organisers expect the BRI Excellence Centre to serve as a bridge between Gujranwala’s industrial base and Chinese institutions, investors and businesses, while also creating new opportunities for research, innovation, language learning and entrepreneurship.
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