Expo Pakistan 2015: Morocco, Saudi Arabia place orders

TDAP says Pakistani entities will get more orders by end of event.

KARACHI: The Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) stated that Pakistan has secured orders of tractor wheel rims, tents and canvas cloth from Morocco and Saudi Arabia during the 9th edition of Expo Pakistan 2015.

The Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) between Moroccan and Saudi companies were signed on Friday in the presence of TDAP Chief Executive S M Muneer and TDAP Secretary Rabiya Javeri Agha.

A MoU has been signed between Materials Agricolas Automobiles and Industries, a Moroccan company, to purchase tractor wheel rims from Balochistan Wheels.

The Moroccan company has agreed to purchase tractor wheel rims worth $1.1 million from Balochistan Wheels in the next 18 months. The company expects to get more orders by the end of the four-day event.

A member of the Moroccan Parliament, Hassane Berkani, was also present at the event. An 11-member delegation of prominent businessmen from Morocco is attending the 9th edition of Expo Pakistan 2015 which is being held at the Expo Centre in Karachi.

A contract worth $6 million was also signed for export of tents and canvas cloth from Pakistan to Saudi Arabia. The agreement was signed between Abid Hassan Sabri of Al-Farooq Enterprises of Pakistan and Abdullah Muhammad of Al-Ghamdi Trading Estate of Saudia Arabia, who hoped to double the tent order by next year.

Trade unions demand protection

Meanwhile, as the government tries to boost exports through the event, trade unionists urged implementation of labour laws in industries to achieve “true growth”.

“Pakistan is a signatory of international labour conventions since its inception yet labourers await their due rights,” said Nasir Mansoor, deputy general secretary of National Trade Union Federation, according to a press release.

“Around 98% of the country’s total labour workforce is not allowed to form their own unions,” he said. “About 95% are without any social security.”

Labour inspection was not being conducted in industries, he said, as most of these work facilities were not registered with the Factory Act.

“More than 250 people were burnt in the Baldia factory incident due to the absence of safety measures.”

Published in The Express Tribune, February 28^th,  2015.

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