Over 50 countries to showcase products at Rawal Expo

Chinese companies to get a dedicated pavilion


Our Correspondent April 11, 2019
PHOTO: FILE

RAWALPINDI: The top body of trader and businessmen in Rawalpindi will hold next week their annual five-day International Rawal Expo 2019.

Addressing a news conference on Wednesday, Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) President Malik Shahid Saleem said that the exhibition will commence on April 17 at Ayub Park. He added that all arrangements in this regard are in the process of being finalised. The RCCI President added that the Rawal Expo 2019 was aiming to enhance business activities in the city apart from promoting Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and providing entertainment to the masses.

Saleem further said that per the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA), SMEs constitute nearly 90 per cent of all enterprises in Pakistan and they employ 80 per cent of the non-agricultural labour force. Moreover, he said that they contribute around 40 per cent if the annual GDP.

He said that the expo will provide a great platform to local SMEs to gain exposure at the international level.

Moreover, a business-to-business (B2B) conference will also be held on the sidelines of the expo. Saleem said that they expect a number of memorandums to be signed between local and foreign companies during the five-day expo.

In this regard, he said that more than 50 international companies, including regional countries such as China, Thailand, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Nepal and Malaysia will display their products at the expo.

The RCCI chief further hoped that the expo will stimulate business activity and provide people with entertainment. More than 250 stalls will be installed covering a range of businesses including food, SMEs, garments, grocery and electronics. “There will be 250 stalls and the important thing is that this time, we will have a separate pavilion for Chinese companies,” he said.

Business expos can create greater opportunities for businesses in B2B since it provides direct interaction between companies and potential customers apart from creating greater opportunities for collaboration and business growth, he further added.

Rawal Expo Chairman Nasir Mirza said that last year 350,000 people were recorded last year and that this year, they were expecting over 500,000 people to turn up. 

Published in The Express Tribune, April 11th, 2019.

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