Exposition Pakistan likely to attract 1,000 foreign buyers

Around 1,000 foreign buyers/importers from about 70 countries are expected to visit Pakistan to attend the country's biggest trade fair 'Expo Pakistan'. The mega event, scheduled to be held from October 4 to 7 at Karachi Expo Centre, would be attended by 670 foreign importers while over 300 foreign businessmen are expected to visit the event independently, said Tahir Raza Naqvi, Chief Executive of Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) while addressing a press conference here the authority's head office on Monday.
During the international trade fair, besides the display of products, a fashion show would also be organised to market Pakistani garments. Expo Pakistan is the biggest trade fair of the country, showcasing the largest collection of export merchandise and services. Foreign exhibitors, from neighbouring countries, also use this platform to launch their products.
During the previous expo, the exhibition was held in five halls whereas the hall number six was allocated for holding fashion shows. This time all six halls have been occupied by the local exhibitors, he said. According to him Over 500 foreign buyers had visited the event last year while the number of foreign visitors may cross 1000 this year. This time the services of interpreters in Chinese, Japanese, French, Spanish, Arabic, German and Russian have also been hired to facilitate the visitors.
He said that about $517 million worth export orders had been finalised during the last year's expo besides the signing of 70 MoUs. He was optimistic that the authority would surpass the figure this year. In reply to a query, Naqvi said that the commercial officers abroad were responsible to select qualitative and serious buyers for the event and all selections had been made as per the criteria fixed by TDAP.
To another question, he said that a comprehensive system was being made to have follow ups of the event in collaboration with the commercial attachés. He further said that at least 150 students had been given training to facilitate the organisers during the expo. The first two days of the expo would be for foreign visitors while the last day of expo has been declared Families Day.