Minister for Industries and Production Jahangir Khan Tareen on Thursday reviewed the preparations made by the Engineering Development Board (EDB) for participation in the world's leading technology exhibition, Hannover 2007, in Germany.
EDB is fielding Pakistan's biggest ever group of 70 engineering sector companies in four different technology categories ie subcontracting, industrial automation, energy and compressed air and vacuum technology this year.
Reviewing the outcome of Hannover 2006, the minister expressed his satisfaction over the post-Hannover export performance of participating companies, majority of which have started exporting to European and Middle East countries. The minister appreciated the efforts of four companies, which have been able to pull off Joint Ventures, technical collaboration and licensing agreement in different areas.
Tareen advised EDB to carry out in-depth post-Hannover analysis of the auto sector companies to ascertain their performance and technological requirements.
According to a press release minister was apprised of the export orders executed and the export enquiries being negotiated by various companies. Participation in Hannover has helped Pakistan establish its image as an emerging engineering destination in the world, he added. A total of 88 engineering companies have been supported by the government since 2005, under the Hannover initiative. In addition 108 engineering sector companies which participated as delegates have also been supported under this initiative by the government.
The minister was informed that seven companies from the oil and gas equipment manufacturing sector are being fielded in the compressed air and vacuum technology category at Hannover 2007, in order to network this growing sector to the global supply chain. Last year, a group of eight companies from the electrical product group were taken to Hannover for the first time and were exposed to latest technologies and manufacturing processes.
These companies received good trade leads but could not convert them into exports due to testing and certification issues, the minister was informed. EDB took steps to address this issue and formed a Committee on Certifications (COC) to present its recommendations to the government. The meeting was attended by secretary Industries, Production and Special Initiatives Shahab Khawaja, Imtiaz Rastgar, CEO, EDB and Syed Nabeel Hashmi, Chairman organising committee for Hannover expo.-PR