KARACHI: Twenty-five Indian businessmen associated with gems and jewellery industry could not join a delegation of businessmen coming to Pakistan for the India Expo as they failed to get special clearance from Islamabad to display their products, stakeholders say.
People from the Indian gems and jewellery industry were eager to showcase their products in Pakistan, but since gold and gold jewellery fall in the negative list – which contains items which India and Pakistan do not trade with each other – they were required to get special permission to bring their products.
The interest of gems and jewellery designers and manufacturers in the Pakistani market can be gauged from the fact that out of a 65-strong delegation, 25 businessmen were from just this industry.
The Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) in association with the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) is organising the India Expo from December 21-23 at the Karachi Expo Centre. This will provide a platform for business communities of the two countries for business-to-business (B2B) meetings.
FIEO is the apex body of Indian export promotion organisations, set up jointly by the Indian Ministry of Commerce and the trade and industry in 1965.
FIEO President Rafeeque Ahmed will lead the delegation of Indian companies and reach Pakistan today (Thursday).
Pakistani and Indian businessmen say they expect over 100 B2B meetings during the three-day exhibition. Fifty meetings have already been confirmed.
When Indian Commerce Minister Anand Sharma came to Pakistan in February this year, the government of Pakistan gave special permission to the sectors that fall into the negative list to bring their products for Lahore exhibition. Similarly, Pakistani companies were offered the same concession when they went to display their products in Mumbai this year.
Businessmen say the exhibitions in Lahore and Mumbai were organised by the ministries of the two governments, which facilitated private companies in getting the necessary permission.
However, this time the Indian gems and jewellery industry has not got special permission. Though India Expo has all the support of the Indian government, it is not directly organised by it.
Pakistan is expected to phase out the negative list by December 31, after which Indian gems and jewellery sector will be allowed to trade in gold items with Pakistan.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 20th, 2012.
COMMENTS (3)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
This is Pakistani law and we have to accept it. It is another matter that Pakistanis scream when they arsubjected to similar regimes.
India should withdraw MFN to Pakistan
The Pakistani businessmen should display the Indian goods on behalf of their Indians counterparts... The visa regime is stupid, it is soon going to be changed, in the meantime our businessmen should do everything to help trade even I the absence of their Indian partners... Trade has to go on... One day the govt will catch on!