ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Tariq Bashir Cheema met with the management and top scientists of China’s Royal Group on Tuesday.

The meeting was attended by senior officials of the Ministry including Secretary Capt (r) Muhammad Asif. Tariq Bashir Cheema welcomed the investment from the Royal Group and directed the ministry officials to expedite the process.

He was briefed that after cabinet approval, protocol will be signed which will lead to development of a Buffalo Embry Development Facility in Lahore. The facility will use the highest quality of buffaloes and 50% of the production of embryos will be used to meet local requirement while the rest will be exported to China.

The Minister was further briefed that the purpose of this project is to enhance the quality of Buffaloes in Pakistan. The delegation discussed business opportunities in Pakistan and briefed the minister that at present, the planned investment projects of the Royal Group Co., Ltd. in Pakistan mainly include the Buffalo Embryos (IVF) Laboratory Project, the Dairy Buffalo Farm Project, and the Buffalo Milk Deep Processing (milk powder, cheese, fresh milk etc.) Factory Project.

The three projects will be carried out in order. The plan of the first phase is expected to generate thousands of jobs. The Minister was briefed about the Royal Group. He was told that the dairy sector of Royal Group Co., Ltd. includes the whole industry chain business, such as forage grass planting, dairy farming, dairy products processing and sales.

It has established and controlled 25 standardized dairy breeding bases with an annual dairy production capacity of 500,000 tons. Royal Group Co., Ltd. owns the only provincial Dairy Technology Research Center, the National Dairy Processing Technology Research and Development Sub-center and Yunnan Enterprise Technology Research Center in Guangxi Province.