The European buyers have totally refused to participate in the country's largest trade show, while others have shown reluctance due to poor law and order situation, sources told Business Recorder on Monday.
Sources in the organising body said that not a single buyer had till now registered with it for attending the exhibition. However, they said that they believed that a large number of foreign buyers would take part in the fair and it would receive their formal confirmation during next month.
However, they added that about 10 percent of last year's exhibitors had confirmed participation in the exhibition. The Fourth Expo Pakistan is scheduled to be held on March 13-16, 2008 at the Karachi Expo Centre under the umbrella of Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) and organised by Pegasus Consultancy.
Sources said that the organisers were facing difficulties in convincing foreign buyers for participation in the Expo, as the western media are depicting Pakistan as an unsafe place.
Countries in Europe have issued travel advisories to their citizens to avoid visits to Pakistan. Therefore, buyers from Europe have clearly turned down the invitations, while others have adopted 'wait and see' policy, they said.
These foreign buyers said that the law and order was already poor, while the assassination of Benazir and riots thereafter had further deteriorated it. These parties at present are replying with the message: "we will see".
Some 800 foreign buyers from 77 countries had participated in the side exhibition last year, while till date some 300 foreign buyers have shown interest for participation in the country's leading exhibition. However, the organisers have not yet received any final confirmation from any buyer, sources said.
Local exhibitors also have shown concern on the country's law and order situation and they are also expecting that during the current year a large number of foreign buyers would not come to Pakistan.
However, some 90-100 local exhibitors have confirmed their participation in the exhibition, against last year's about 450 exhibitors, and expressed hope to get foreign orders.
"It's true that law and order situation is putting negative impact on the Expo Pakistan and creating hurdles in the participation of foreign buyers," said Asim Siddique, Chairman of Pegasus Consultancy, while talking to Business Recorder.
He said that TDAP and Pegasus were focusing on genuine and quality buyers. Therefore, if the number of buyers reduced, the quality buyers was expected to fill the gap. "Although, to-date few foreign buyers have contacted us for participation in the exhibition, we are hopeful that by next month a large number of confirmation would be received, as Pakistan's commercial consulates abroad, besides Pegasus, are working for the Expo Pakistan," he added. He said that it was expected that some 500 foreign buyers would come on the occasion. "However, we will not go on quantity."
He confirmed that European buyers had clearly refused to participate due to travel advisory issued by their countries, while a delegation from USA had contacted for participation in the Expo Pakistan.
"The Exhibition is scheduled for one month after general election. Therefore, the buyers are waiting for election and, in case of peaceful election, we will receive major confirmations," he said. Meanwhile, TDAP Chairman Tariq Ikram dispelled the impression that Expo Pakistan would not take place as scheduled. "The TDAP has almost made all arrangements for the Expo 2008," he added.
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