Islamabad to host next year’s Indian expo

Business communities of both countries pledge cooperation, more trade fairs

ISLAMABAD:

The Indian business community will organise the ‘Indian Expo’ in Islamabad for the first time with the federal capital hosting the event in the second week of March next year.

The announcement was made by an Indian delegation, led by Punjab Chamber of Commerce and Industry co-chairman Rupinder Singh Sachdva, after Pakistani authorities gave its approval.



The delegation also visited the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) to discuss possibilities of cooperation for the four-day Indian Expo. “Holding Indian expos in Lahore has been a regular feature, however, it is the first time that an expo would be held in Islamabad and we desire ICCI’s full cooperation to make this event a success,” said Rupinder.

“The Indian government allowed the PHD Chamber to organise the expo in the federal capital,” he said, adding that about 100 stalls of various Indian products including machinery and equipment, engineering goods and food products would be on display at the expo.

He said facilitating frequent exchange of trade delegations and holding exhibitions was the best way to promote bilateral trade and economic relations between the two countries.

Speaking on the occasion, ICCI President Atif Ikram Sheikh said such expos would bring business communities of both countries closer, “We have been also permitted to hold an expo in India from March 11 to 16, 2016.”



He said both governments had started the process of normalisation of relations, which was a welcome sign for business communities on both ends. “Pakistan and India are the largest economies of South Asia. They have a huge potential to promote trade. Sustaining normal bilateral relations is the key to fully exploit the available trade potential.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 20^th, 2015.

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