KARACHI: Pakistan imported plastic, machinery and equipment worth $ 1.4 billion during 2010, of which import of plastic materials was $ 1.2 billion while import of plastic, printing and packaging machinery and equipment touched $ 212 million in the same period.
This was stated by Martin Marz, managing director of fairtrade Messe, Germany, while speaking at the inauguration of three exhibitions, 10th Plasti & Pack 2012, 9th iftech food + bev Pakistan 2012 and 1st food + hospitality 2012, being held at Karachi Expo Centre here Tuesday.
He said that for the first time, a leading German trade exhibition company fairtrade Messe has joined hand with Pegasus Consultancy to organize trade fairs in Pakistan.
"This synergy will provide an excellent platform for decision makers from all sectors of Pakistani plastics, foodtec and food industry to get in contact with cutting edge solutions and meet new suppliers", he noted.
Quoting a report of Germany Trade & Invest Department, a foreign trade and inward investment agency of the Federal Republic of Germany, he said that Pakistan requirements for plastic materials have increased by 3.7 percent in recent years.
According to the German engineering association, VDMA, Pakistan imported food processing and packaging equipment worth $ 108 million, he added.
Quoting United Nations Commodity Statistics database, he said that Pakistan food import has surged by 40 percent to $ 2.5 billion in 2010, rising from $ 1.7 billion in 2009.
The overall food and beverage trade in Pakistan has surged to $ 6 billion during 2010, as the country imported food items worth $ 2.5 billion whereas its food export stood at 3.5 billion in the same year, he noted.
Secretary Industries Sindh, Zamir Ahmed Khan congratulated the organizer for holding the exhibition and said it will provide great opportunity for both exhibitors and local buyers to interact with each other.
President KCCI Mian AbrarAhmed said that Pakistan is the largest producer of citrus food, yet it did not have proper facilities to process this food and add value.
Chairman Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI) Ehteshamuddin said that it was good to see that a large number of foreign exhibitors are showcasing their latest machinery and technology in Karachi despite negative propaganda about Pakistan by international media and prevailing law and order situation in the city.
Managing director Pegasus Consultancy Aamir Khanzada in his welcome remarks said that 100 companies from 19 countries are displaying their products and technology at the fair.
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