Expo Pakistan 2013 kicks off in Karachi

The 8th Annual Expo Pakistan 2013, the biggest in the series in terms of number of participants and international buyers, kicked off in southern Pakistani economic hub Karachi on Thursday, with around 1,000 foreign buyers from 70 countries participating. President of Pakistan Mamnoon Hussain inaugurated the event at the Governor House with a commitment to make Pakistan a preferred destination for business. The biggest ever four-day Expo Pakistan would continue at the Expo Centre from September 26-29 September 2013. The President informed the delegates from abroad that the Expo Pakistan would offer them a good opportunity to explore the countrys potential. The event organized by Trade Development Association of Pakistan (TDAP) offers a complete basket of Pakistans export sector with over 1500 domestic and international exhibitors displaying their products. Secretary TDAP Rabia Javeri Agha highlighted the importance of the Expo Pakistan event saying it was the best platform for displaying the economic potential of Pakistan showcasing a diversity of Pakistani products. The foreign buyers including 15 companies from Kuwait are largely attending the expo. Buyers from USA, Japan, Malaysia, Hong Kong, China, Iran, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, South Korea, Brazil, Poland, Bangladesh, Libya, China, South Africa, Bahrain, Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Netherlands, Morocco and UAE are also attending the expo. The Expo Pakistan is presenting local products including Agro Foods, Beauty Products, Constructions Material, Defense Products, Designer Wear, Engineering Manufacturing, Furniture, Garments, Gems Jewelry, Handicrafts, Handloom Traditional Textile, Home Decor (Carpet Rugs), Home Textile Related Products, Kitchen Equipment, Knitwear, Leather, Leather Accessories, Mineral Metals, Pharmaceuticals, Services, Sportswear/ Sports Goods, Stationary Products and Surgical Instruments. Pakistani exhibitors received orders worth USD 580 million last year as some 900 foreign buyers visited Expo Pakistan 2012 and TDAP expects over 1,000 buyers generating business deals of over USD 700 million this year. This year the largest delegations of businessmen are coming from Japan and Malaysia, each with over 80 members. Most of the international store chains from Far East and South East Asian regions said that buyers from these regions want to buy Pakistani products mainly because the costs of production in these regions have increased significantly in the last few years compared to Pakistan