The Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) is aiming to achieve $1 billion worth of export orders, almost double the last year’s $517 million despite the challenges of electricity shortage in the country and global economic slowdown.
“Our target is to assist foreign businessmen so that they can build long-term business partnerships with their local partners,” Federal Commerce Minister Makhdoom Amin Fahim said after inaugurating the 7th Expo Pakistan.
Replying to a question, he stressed that the government was aware of severe energy shortages, but despite all such problems, the exporters were trying hard to spur the country’s exports.
One of the obvious questions to Fahim was about the delay in trade policy. “We just have to do one more meeting before we can announce the next trade policy,” he responded.
Fahim pointed out that Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf could have come to inaugurate the exhibition, but he had to meet the visiting Russian foreign minister.
When attention was drawn towards some empty stalls, TDAP Chief Executive Tahir Raza Naqvi said the trade authority charged money from all exhibitors who had set up stalls and if there were some stalls that were still empty even after the start of exhibition, the exhibitors would be at a loss, not TDAP.
This year, more foreign buyers have come to Pakistan. According to TDAP officials, at least 670 foreign buyers from 70 countries have arrived and the total is expected to cross 1,000.
Like the previous year, Japan External Trade Organisation (Jetro) is also active this year and has set up a Japanese pavilion at the Expo.
Talking to The Express Tribune at one of the stalls, US Consul for Economic and Commercial Affairs Jonathan T Ward spoke about bilateral economic ties between America and Pakistan.
There were a number of problems that both the governments needed to address to achieve an increase in bilateral trade, he said. “US markets are open to all, so there are no Pakistan-specific problems. Both the governments are working hard to increase bilateral trade.”
Security issues were one of the biggest concerns of foreign businessmen during the exhibition, prompting the TDAP and security agencies to make efforts to provide fool-proof security to the participants.
The first two days of the exhibition will be open for foreign buyers only and the general public will be able to visit the fair in the next two days.
The Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) – the biggest chamber of the country – did buy a stall, but it was completely empty with no furniture or official present even hours after the inauguration.
The stall of the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry had just some handicrafts on display, but there were no officials.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 5th, 2012.
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