Pakistani exporters received orders worth three million dollars for various fabrics at the 29th Federal Fair for Home Textiles held at the Russian exhibition centre last week, according to information received here on Tuesday.
Pakistan's Ambassador Mustafa Kamal Kazi visited the exhibition and exchanged views with the exporters regarding removal of trade barriers and further enhancing exports to Russia.
Pak-Russia Business Council of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Director Farooq Afzal and Pakistani diplomats were also present on the occasion.
The Ambassador was informed that Russia was importing more than 40 textile items worth 20 billion dollars annually. He expressed pleasure on seeing the quality of products on display at the exhibition by Pakistani exporters.
Kazi said Russian textile market had a huge potential and urged the Pakistani exporters to divert their attention to this new emerging market as tremendous opportunities existed there for them.
Farooq Afzal invited Pakistani exporters to open their display centre/offices in Textile Profi, Ivanovo, which would help them to boost exports as well as capturing huge share in Russian textile market. Ivanovo is the Manchester of Russia.
Kazi acknowledged the need of a Pakistani bank and urged the exporters to develop a consensus to have warehouses in Moscow at their own. Farooq Afzal said the private sector had an important role in boosting country's exports, as they were the producers of exportable items, adding that efforts were being made to help them in the promotion of Pakistan's textiles in Russian market. He urged the government to establish road infrastructure till Iran, as this would reduce 10 days to export goods from Pakistan to Russia.