SARMAD MAHMUD

SIALKOT: Chief Coordinator Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PRGMEA) Ijaz A. Khokhar has said that Pakistan should focus on holding ‘Made in Pakistan’ exhibition in Dubai like other countries.

Talking to Business Recorder on Tuesday he said that goods produced in Pakistan should be showcased in this exhibition. The holding of the event will not only attract the businessmen belonging to various countries but also helpful for Pakistani businessmen to develop B2B contacts with their counterparts he said. Ijaz said that such events were playing vital role not only in expanding trade but also help in developing business contacts adding that in current era, B2B contacts play an important role in the promotion of business.

Holding of trade fairs and exhibitions were meant to enable businessmen to showcase the products of their respective countries to attract the buyers he said. About Expo Pakistan he said that it was a tremendous event which was attended by a large number of people adding that representation of Sialkot businessmen in Expo-Pakistan was commendable.

Ijaz suggested that Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) should formulate a strategy for holding Expo Pakistan at Karachi and Lahore in future adding that Karachi will cover Sindh and Balochistan while Lahore will cover Punjab, KPK and Azad Kashmir areas.

In order to capture traditional and non traditional markets, government should focus on formulation of aggressive marketing policy by taking on board private sector for enhancing exports of the country he suggested. He also suggested that government should consider to prepare trade policy on yearly basis and recommendations of the policy should be implemented for attaining the fixed export targets.

Under the circumstances PRGMEA suggested that there was a great need of formulation of “Regional wise sector polices because export hubs of four provinces were producing different products and regional policies would help the government in ascertaining the problems and needs of the business community, he said. Ijaz said that government should take stakeholders on board for preparing sector wise polices adding that consultation with the stakeholders will pave the way for addressing problems of the business community.

He underscored the need of setting up “Business Promotional Board at Sialkot for finding out the ways and means for the growth of different industrial sectors including sports goods, surgical instruments, hand made badges, leather garments, musical instruments, gloves and sports wears sectors of Sialkot, he said.