In the backdrop of encouraging results from the world biggest carpet exhibition-Domotex Fair, in Germany, the Pakistan Carpet Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PCMEA) is optimistic about the recovery in the country's carpet exports which were declined to $145 million.
While addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, the PCMEA Chairman Pervez Hanif said though the Trade and Development Authority of Pakistan (DTAP) and the Ministry of Commerce miserably failed to facilitate the carpet exporters at the world renowned exhibition, yet the exporters at their own received handsome export orders.
The TDAP was required to make timely arrangements so as enable the maximum participation of the carpet exporters but the Authority gave advertisement on November 22, 2009 while the exhibition was to be held on January 14. As a result, most of the manufacturers and exporters were not able to participate in the exhibition because of short time for dispatching carpet consignments to Germany, he added.
The Domotex Fair is the largest carpet exhibition in the world and Pakistani exporters are regularly attending the fair to fetch sizeable orders. He said this year only 20 of the 35 carpet exporters could participate in Domotex. He said that the Pakistan's Commercial Councillor Germany refused to provide refreshment for the foreign buyers that has been the tradition for several years stating that the budget for this purpose was not available.
Despite these drawbacks he added the 20 exhibitors from Pakistan obtained healthy orders. He predicted that the carpet exports this fiscal would exceed $200 million on the strength of these orders. There was substantial delay in taking initiative for making arrangements by the TDAP high-ups. Because of lacking interest on the part of Pakistani Commercial Consular in Germany, the space for Pakistani stall was allotted at the end of exhibition at invisible place.
As many as 124 carpets from 15 participating countries were put on display. Among 30 finalists, two Pakistan carpets achieved the award in different categories which is for the first time in the Pakistan's history, he added and lamented that none of any official from TDAP or Ministry of Commerce gave recognition on this achievement.
Pervez Hanif further said that one of the PCMEA member put a large size carpet of 1000 sq.ft on display at the exhibition that attracted a considerable number of visitors. Even the German Foreign Minister specially arrived at the Pakistani pavilion to see one of the largest Pakistani carpets.
He said Pakistani Ambassador was duly informed about the German Minister's visit but neither he nor anyone from the Embassy or TDAP turned up. The PCMEA Chairman also said that Pakistan has huge potential to regain its lost share in the world carpet market because Turkey has almost out of the export while China has become importing country and gradually getting out of the export.
In the absence of these two players, Pakistan has opportunity to capture the international market while our manufacturers are moving toward innovation, which is evident from the achievement of award, he maintained. PCMEA former Chairman Latif Malik and Major Nazir Akhtar (Retd) also spoke on the occasion and highlighted their problems relating to taxation.
Comments
Comments are closed.