‘Carpet export losing share in global market’

PCMEA suggests single-country exhibitions abroad

LAHORE:

The Pakistan Carpet Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PCMEA) has stressed the need for establishing special pavilions to promote Pakistani products abroad.

PCMEA Senior Vice Chairman Usman Ashraf said, "Pakistan should organise single country exhibitions to access the markets of different countries."

He was chairing the weekly review meeting of the association in the provincial capital on Sunday.

Usman Ashraf said that the exporters had been facing numerous challenges that must be addressed on a priority basis.

Pakistan had a unique recognition among the few countries which manufactured handmade carpets, but due to lack of patronage by authorities concerned, this sector was losing its share in the global markets, which needed serious attention.

"This is an industry through which the government can stop urbanization by sponsoring it," he claimed.

Senior vice chairman said that the export sectors should be categorised with regard to their problems and priority should be given to the sector facing more problems.

He said the manufacturers and exporters who had been working for decades had had an emotional attachment to it despite the unfavorable conditions and fewer resources, and were trying to compete with other countries, including the traditional competitors.

He said, "In order to get our share in the global market we have to formulate an effective strategy for marketing and promotion of our products which is not possible without government support," said Usman Ashraf.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 27^th, 2023.