The business community of Sialkot had urged upon the federal government and Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) that the visit of foreign investors and other trade delegations should be ensured to this export-oriented city and hub of cottage industries of the country.
Sialkot possesses a unique export culture as a result of which many foreign companies were entering into joint ventures with the local firms reflecting the confidence of multi-nationals in abilities of manufacturers of Sialkot.
With the passage of time, the scope of joint ventures was widening due to the hectic efforts of the business community of Sialkot.
Despite possessing rich and extra-ordinary rich export culture and bright opportunities of joint ventures in different trade fields, Sialkot was being totally ignored, the visit of foreign trade delegation and investors restricted to other cities of the country by the concerned authorities.
At present Sialkot is exporting sports goods, surgical instruments, badges, musical instruments, soccer balls, cutlery and martial art uniforms amounting to US $800 million annually and growing at steady pace.
Sialkot is the only export-oriented city of Pakistan and known world widely for its export of high quality sporting goods, surgical instruments, leather goods, gloves, musical instruments etc. Hundreds of SMEs are situated in and around city that are engaged in producing high quality goods for export to international markets.
The city has developed SME culture highly conducive to business collaborations and joint ventures in various industries in Sialkot. Keeping in view the importance of export culture, an Export Processing Zone had been established which is second biggest zone in the country where special incentives, cheap labour and infrastructure facilities are available.
For Sialkot Export Processing Zone (SEPZ) as many as 181 projects proposals worth envisaged capital investment of US $138 million, annual exports of US $216 million and employment opportunities of 17,000 persons, stand approved by Export Processing Authority (EPZA).
In addition to this, the mega project of Sialkot International Airport was being developed totally financed by the local business community. The functioning of airport will open an era of prosperity and industrial development in the area. It is high time that all concerned high-ups especially EPB and Commerce Ministry should concentrate on the visit of foreign trade delegations and investors to the city of investment opportunities.
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