The three-day single country Thailand Exhibition concluded here on Sunday as 45 companies showcased their new range of products by making business deals with local distributors and dealers. A number of people including women availed the opportunity to get direct access to the Thai products. According to organisers, a large number of people thronged to exhibition on last day.
Although exhibition was aimed to build ties with local companies, dealers, agents and Thailand companies offered a small range of their products for on spot sale, but almost all products were sold out encouraging them to explore more business opportunities in Pakistan.
Leading Thai companies displayed around eight categories of products including foods and beverages, garments, medicine, cosmetic and fashion accessories, gifts and decorative items, health and beauty, household and kitchenware, leather and footwear production.
Suebsak Dangboonrueng, Director Thai Trade Centre, Dhaka, Department of International Trade Promotion, Ministry of Commerce, Royal Thai Government, termed the exhibition successful in terms of introducing Thai products to the people of Pakistan and finalising business deals. He hoped that the FTA between Pakistan and Thailand will be signed by the end of this year or in the first quarter of 2018, which will not only increase the volume of bilateral trade between both countries but also increase the opportunity for the investment in Pakistan.
Many Thai investors are waiting for the final outcome of FTA as they are willing to make investment in Pakistan to large extent. The FTA is not only about products it is also about the people where they get quality products with choice', he remarked. He opined that once FTA is signed, Pakistani students will also be able to benefit from the Thai education and healthcare sectors as these are very affordable for them. The holding of such exhibition after nine years is also significant. The security situation of Pakistan has become much better which is encouraging sign for the foreign investors.
Earlier, due to security reasons they were reluctant to visit Pakistan but now situation is satisfactory, Dangboonrueng observed. The organisers said that President FPCCI Zubair Tufail also visited exhibition on its second day and appreciated efforts of organisers to promote business ties between the two countries. The exhibition was managed by Event and Conference International Pvt Ltd, and the Department of International Trade Promotion, Ministry of Commerce, Royal Thai Government.