Fears are being expressed that 'Expo Pakistan 2007' might suffer due to the ongoing rift between the officers of Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) and Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP).
Sources told Business Recorder that the biggest challenge facing the success of TDAP were the bureaucratic hurdles on the part of EPB officers, who "are active to make TDAP a flop story". It may be mentioned here that the transformation of TDAP as an independent body is underway at the moment. Formerly, it used to be EPB.
There is a severe rift going on between the government officers of EPB and the TDAP officers recently inducted from the private sector on market competitive remuneration packages. 'Expo Pakistan 2007' is likely to suffer in the first instance as an outcome of this rivalry, sources said.
Expo Pakistan 2007, to be held in Karachi, is a gateway to the true commercial and cultural richness of Pakistan. It is an ideal one-stop sourcing event, showcasing the premium and value-priced products of Pakistan and would act as a global marketplace for interaction.
The success of this mega event is doubtful, as the event manager has so far been able to book less than 40 percent of the stalls. Karachi Expo Centre has a capacity to accommodate around 375 stalls, while so far only 150 stalls have been booked by export-oriented businesses, and only three weeks have been left to the inauguration of the mega event, which is scheduled to be held from March 29, 2007.
According to sources, the appointment of the event manager was made quite late, and was also controversial, as it was given the contract for three years despite opposition by some members of the steering committee of the Expo Pakistan, including Major General Absar of DEPO.
It may be mentioned here that the said firm had also been the event manager of the 'IDEAS' exhibition, which is another major event, held recently. But after the event the DEPO, being not satisfied with the event managers, ended the contract, sources said.
It is worth mentioning here that a few foreign delegates had sent their confirmation to attend the event. "None from EU and USA has confirmed its presence so far, and its seems that no more than 300 foreign delegates would be coming," sources added.
A TDAP officer admitted that there were some hurdles, which the Authority, being in a transformation phase, was encountering on the part of former EPB officers and the ministerial bureaucracy as well. However, the Board members and the Commerce Minister had pledged their full support.
The Export Promotion Bureau, first time in the history of Pakistan, had held the 'Expo Pakistan', a mega trade event, in February 2005 without any event manager. Expo Pakistan 2005 provided an ideal window for the businesses around the world to look more closely into Pakistan's industrial capabilities and explore further opportunities to make business partners with Pakistan for above the edge market superiority in their country.
That event was a resounding success as more than 1200 foreign visitors from 77 countries, Ministers for Trade and Commerce of 15 countries and delegates of 38 Chamber of Commerce assessed the quality 'Made in Pakistan' products displayed by 450 export oriented businesses of Pakistan.
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