Made in Pakistani Products Expo kicks off

The third edition of ´Made in Pakistan Products Exhibition 2012´ kicked off at the Direction Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC) on Wednesday.

The expo is being organized by Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industries with an aim of strengthening trade relations between Nepal and Pakistan.

Visitors at the six-day expo can find different Pakistani products ranging from wooden furniture to textile products, kurtha salwar and saris, leather products, footwear, jewelry, cosmetics and gemstones, cushion cover, handicrafts made of onyx, wooden and brass, kitchenware and melamine products, among others.

Chiffon and cotton kuthas are available in range of Rs 500 to Rs 2,000, while cushion covers cost Rs 200 per piece and price of jewelries cost between Rs 250 and Rs 5,000. Similarly, belts are priced between Rs 150 to Rs 1,800, jackets cost in range of Rs 3,000 to Rs 5,000 and wallets are priced at Rs 350 to Rs 1,500 per unit.

Slippers cost in range of Rs 800 to Rs 1,200, while saris are priced between Rs 2,500 and Rs 5,000.

The price of decorative materials and furniture items at the expo starts from Rs 900 and go as high as Rs 300,000.

Mohammad Asaraf of Salman Brothers that deals in leather products said has found the expo an ideal platform to promote his business. “I´ve been participating in this expo since the first edition. The only problem is that we have been facing difficulty due to high customs fee,” Asaraf said, adding, “High customs fee is making our products expensive.”

The expo features 65 stalls showcasing different products made in Pakistan. Most of the participants of the expo are using the expo as a platform to showcase their products and find business partners to sell their products in Nepal.

Mohammad Azeem of Classic, who is participating in the expo for the first time, hopes to find local partners to expand his business in Nepal. His firm deals in kurtha salwars.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Javed Akhtar Bhatti, president of the RCCI, said trade and expos like these would help boost trade between the two countries. He also requested Nepali business community to organize similar exhibition in Pakistan as well to promote Nepali goods there.

The organizers are expecting footfall of 45,000 this year. Last year, the expo had attracted around 25,000 visitors. Visitors get free entry to the expo.

source: republica, 20 June 2012