Pakistan Pavilion at Tripoli Fair: KCCI officials, TDAP DG to hold discussion

Secretary Trade Development Authority of Pakistan, Rabia Javeri Agha has said that a meeting of representatives of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) will be arranged with relevant TDAP Director General to discuss the issuance of allocation letter to KCCI for organising Pakistan Pavilion at Tripoli International Fair.
Talking to Acting President KCCI, Muffasar A. Malik during her visit to Karachi Chamber, Rabia Javeri Agha said that it was her goal to translate her love for Karachi city into action but TDAP was facing serious financial problems as funds allocated to TDAP by the federal government have now been curtailed by 30 per cent.
"TDAP had been receiving Rs 1 billion to meet its expenditures since 90s up to 2013 but now it has been reduced by 30 per cent, which will create problems for TDAP," Secretary TDAP informed.
She informed that TDAP is currently being restructured and reorganised as many of its departments are overburdened which will be properly aligned and sector-wise departments will be established to improve the functioning of TDAP.
"Our job is to create strong linkages between the business communities of Pakistan and its counterparts in many countries across the globe," she added.
She further stressed the need to promote Pakistani products in the international markets as numerous high quality products were being manufactured in Pakistan but they have not yet been promoted in international markets.
In this regard, she advised KCCI to showcase these products at various platforms and TDAP will extend full support to the chamber.
Referring to the mega event of World Expo, Rabia Javeri informed that under the current circumstances, Pakistan cannot afford to participate in this event as it will cost a hefty amount of 5 million euros, besides it was not a commercially viable event but was purely an image-building event.
Speaking on the occasion, Acting President KCCI, Muffasar A. Malik pointed out that during the past few years, Pakistan has been facing various challenges related to economic instability, internal and external threats, in the form of deteriorating law and order situation, energy crisis, slow pace of local and foreign investment, high cost of doing business, corruption, high interest rates and negative perception of Pakistan abroad.
"We at KCCI firmly believe that only solution to uplift and strengthen the economy is industrialisation and enhancing exports," he said, adding that the country was in dire need of paradigm shift in respect of exports.
Muffasar Malik was of the view that win-win situation for all can be created by focusing on the regional trade by encouraging exports to India and other Saarc countries, Asean countries, the Central Asian Republics, China, Middle East, North Africa, Iran and other regional countries.
Highlighting the importance of ensuring secure atmosphere to business community and the exporters, Acting President KCCI suggested that TDAP should introduce legal framework to protect the exporters from unforeseen incidents like consignments losses etc and to launch a national drive to fortify exports.
He also advised TDAP to work jointly with KCCI for setting up a display centre of products "Made in Pakistan" in European countries and the regional countries. Initially such display centers can be introduced in the commercial sections of the Embassies of Pakistan functioning in the friendly countries.
He pointed out that KCCI made all-out efforts in a row and successfully organised Pakistan Pavilion in 38th & 39th Tripoli International Fair in 2009 & 2010. "We demand the allocation of Pakistan Pavilion in the forthcoming exhibitions in Dakar International Fair (FIDAK) 2014 to be held at Dakar, Senegal and 41st Tripoli Int'l Fair, to be held between 2nd April to 12th 2014 in Libya", he added.
Moreover, Muffasar Malik demanded that the chamber should also be given due representation in the Trade Delegations organised by TDAP.
Referring to KCCI Export Trophy Award event, Muffasar Malik asked TDAP to extend full co-operation in organising this mega event, which can be in the shape of sponsorship and financial assistance.
Commenting on My Karachi Exhibition's subsidy issue, Acting President said that KCCI has not received funds for the last three years of 'My Karachi Exhibition' for 2011, 2012 and 2013 from TDAP. In this regard, he requested Secretary TDAP to kindly release the subsidies to KCCI urgently. In response, Rabia Javeri said that she will ensure that KCCI gets exhibition's subsidy organised during the current fiscal year.
Vice President KCCI, Muhammad Idrees, Director General TDAP, Dr. Muhammad Yousuf Khan, Former President KCCI, Majyd Aziz and Managing Committee members including Durr-e-Shahwar Nisar, Agha Sahab Ahmed Khan, Naveed Farooki, Shahzad Mobeen and others were also present at the meeting.-PR