Pakistan, being the geographical centre of the region, has great attraction for investment and participation of 180 companies from 21 countries in the first international plastic printing and packaging (PPP) exhibition and international food equipment and technology (Foodtech Pakistan-2004) exhibition is a testimony to the fact.
This was stated by Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) Chairman Tariq Ikram, while inaugurating the PPP and Foodtech Pakistan 2004, which began at the Karachi Expo Centre on Tuesday.
He said that the law and order situation was no excuse for real businessmen, who believed that high returns always accompanied high risk. He said due to economic turnaround in Pakistan, there was a great potential for doing business with high returns with a certain degree of risk.
The EPB chief said there would be still higher returns in Afghanistan and Iraq where there was greater risk.
He also cited the Egatex machinery fair recently held in Karachi where the attendance of foreign machinery manufacturers and suppliers was unprecedented.
Tariq Ikram said Pakistan would be linked to the Gulf and Central Asian countries with the development of Gwadar Port and construction of railway and road network in neighbouring Afghanistan.
With the improvement in political situation in South Asia, Pakistan would serve as a commercial hub for the entire region, he added.
He lauded the role of event management industry, which was 40 percent of the world gross domestic product (GDP) in development of business, and said that the Karachi Expo Centre, which was under the EPB management, had achieved 57 percent utilisation during the last four years.
He said a similar centre would be established at Lahore on build, operate and transfer (BOT) basis.
Tariq said that a Pakistan Expo had been scheduled for February 2005 during which the entire city of Karachi would be declared exhibition venue.
He lauded the efforts of the Conference and Exhibition Management Services (CEMS) and Pegasus Constancy for organising the show, which had brought state of the art technology under one roof. It would provide a chance to the Pakistani exporters and manufacturers to learn a great deal about modern methods of production, he added.
Cems Managing Director Edward Liu, speaking on the occasion, said that holding the PPP in Karachi affirmed not only the strategic importance of Pakistan as a key plastic and packing products exporter in South Asia, but also served to meet the increasing needs of the industry.
He said that both the PPP and Foodtech Pakistan would fill the vital niches in these inter-related industries, and with the growing convergence of packers and producers, both the events would define the foods, flavours and prospects of the future while bringing the industry together under one roof.
The opening ceremony was also addressed by Pakistan Plastic manufacturers Association President Zakaria Usman and Asim A. Siddiqui of Pegasus Consultancy.
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