The Pakistan Foundry Association (PFA) is organising the second two-day international congress and exhibition on December 5 and 6 with the theme "globalisation of the developing world" in which over 600 delegates from the country and abroad are expected to take part.
In his speech to a press conference here on Thursday, PFA president Sikandar Mustafa Khan said the exhibition 2006 helped indigenous foundry industry and three-four units had started exporting their products.
Though, the export realisation is not as much but most important thing is introduction of Pakistani product in the international market, he said. The association in collaboration with small and medium enterprises authority (Smeda) launched a project for which funds are also being provided to enhance skill development while Federal Minister for Industries, Production and Special Initiatives, Jahangir Khan Tareen is likely to announce setting up of school of excellence for skill development, he maintained. He also said the congress speakers would help reduce deficiency in our foundry industry.
Responding to newsmen, the PFA president said that 90 percent foundry units are not mechanised while the remaining 10 percent are also not fully automated. The foundry industry is at premature stage and could not bear heavy expenses of automation. However, after enhancing production from 0.25 million tons to 1.0-1.2 million tons the automation would be economically viable, he added.
General secretary Asim Qadri briefed the audience about the arrangements of the congress and exhibition to be made at a hotel, saying 94 stalls would be set up out of which 60 had already been booked. The foundry men, foundry technologists, foundry machinery suppliers, raw material suppliers, research establishments, academia and other concerned stakeholders of the industry could take part in the congress, he said.
He also said the delegates from India, Saarc countries, China, Britain, Europe, Turkey, Iran and Russia were expected to showcase their latest advances in technology in foundry products. "The foundry sector in Pakistan is experiencing an unprecedented growth in the last few years as the European and US markets are focusing on this region of the world. Quality and improved manufacturing methods are big issues in SMEs in the foundry sector," he added.
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