The Belt and Road Economic and Trade Center (BRETC), a flagship project developed by IBI International Group, officially commenced operations in Changshu, Suzhou, signaling a pivotal advancement in fostering economic and trade partnerships across Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) nations. Designed as a multifunctional hub, the center will streamline cross-border trade, investment, and cultural cooperation while promoting deeper integration between China and participating economies.
Upon full operationalization, BRETC will deliver end-to-end services, including bilateral bulk trade facilitation, supply chain coordination, engineering procurement and construction (EPC) support, transfer-operate-transfer (TOT) project management, production line establishment, and tailored financing solutions for both corporate and government stakeholders.
Key priorities for the center include enabling joint ventures, offering trade and project financing mechanisms, and assisting partner nations in accessing China’s domestic market. Dedicated exhibition spaces and liaison offices for major collaborators such as Pakistan, Jordan, and Nigeria have been established within the facility. Pakistan’s Ambassador to China, Khalil Hashmi, praised the initiative as a catalyst for connectivity and tangible economic opportunities.
“BRETC’s holistic approach—encompassing procurement assistance, legal advisory services, and cross-border business matchmaking—directly addresses the needs of our private sector to thrive in global markets,” Hashmi stated. IBI Group Chairman Ibrahim Munir emphasized the center’s innovative role in transcending conventional trade frameworks.
“This platform will fast-track collaborations not just in textiles but across sectors like information technology, mining, agriculture, and renewable energy,” Munir remarked. The launch coincides with China’s sustained BRI engagement, which recorded RMB 22.1 trillion in trade with partner nations in 2024.
