Tag Archives: Pakistan

BANKING: ICBC Drafted Into Pakistan, BOC Expands In US

Bottom line: ICBC’s $4.3 billion lending program for Pakistani power projects is being driven by Beijing policy directives, while Bank of China’s US expansion is a commercially driven move to tap Chinese demand for US real estate.

ICBC in Pakistani power projects

New stories involving 2 of China’s “Big 4” lenders are casting a spotlight on the love-hate relationship that many investors have with these mammoth banks that sometimes act commercially but more often make decisions based on directives from Beijing. The larger item has ICBC (HKEx: 1398; Shanghai: 601398), China’s biggest bank, committing to a massive new $4.3 billion lending program to help develop Pakistan’s energy sector. The other has Bank of China (HKEx: 3988; Shanghai: 601398) planning a modest expansion in the US, as it looks to tap a growing appetite for American real estate by Chinese investors. Read Full Post…

China Mobile Eyes Pakistan Expansion

China Mobile eyes Pakistan’s Warid

It appears that dominant wireless telco China Mobile (HKEx: 941; NYSE: CHL) has discovered a sudden love affair with Pakistan, with word that it’s weighing an acquisition bid to complement its existing operation in the South Asian market. If anyone detects just a tiny bit of sarcasm in my tone, it’s because I find it somewhat amusing that the world’s largest wireless telco is focusing so much energy on such a small market when there are so many more promising ones for its troubled global expansion. Read Full Post…