Furniture-makers plan to open outlets in Saudi Arabia

Delegation leaves for the kingdom to explore market

LAHORE: A three-member senior delegation of the Pakistan Furniture Council (PFC) left for Saudi Arabia on Wednesday on a three-day visit to explore potential in the kingdom’s furniture industry and market.

It will visit different cities including Jeddah for opening outlets of Pakistani handmade world-class furniture brands in order to set a foothold in overseas markets, according to a statement issued on Wednesday.



Prior to the departure, PFC Chief Executive Mian Kashif Ashfaq said Saudi Arabia was a big market for Pakistani furniture producers as there was a massive potential for expanding trade because Pakistani handmade traditional furniture was in high demand in international markets.



“We will also hold meetings with our counterparts to chalk out a combined business strategy for enhancing bilateral trade,” he said. “We will also discuss our participation in the Decofair to be held in Jeddah from December 5.”

He pointed out that the big furniture exhibition would attract local and international brands to display their products. “If we participate in this fair, we will have opportunities to establish a network and conduct business with buyers, interior designers, architects and investors,” he added.

However, Ashfaq regretted that Saudi Arabia had increased business visa fee to Rs74,000 per person for any kind of business activity, which discouraged a large number of Pakistanis from participating in Saudi exhibitions.



“Not a single Pakistani company participated in the Saudi Health 2017 exhibition,” he revealed and urged the Saudi government to waive the fee so that maximum businessmen could participate in the Decofair.

Ashfaq underscored the need for regular meetings between investors and businessmen of both sides, which would open new avenues of investment and further boost bilateral relations.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 7^th, 2018.

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