The 9th International Footwear Exhibition JUFT-2007 has commenced here from Saturday in which 114 leading footwear manufacturers are taking part.
A large number of buyers from 20 countries including United Kingdom, Belgium, France, Hong Kong, Italy, Greece, Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Iran, Kenya, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Bangladesh have arrived to attend the exhibition organised by Pakistan Footwear Manufacturers Association (PFMA).
Federal Minister for Commerce Humayun Akhtar Khan was scheduled to be the chief guest who could not arrive on the occasion. Addressing the inaugural ceremony, Director General, Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) Agha Zafar Mehdi Shah said the footwear exports reached to 150 million dollar during the first 11-months of the financial year 2006-07.
He hoped that with the continuation of PFMA efforts, the footwear export would further increase by 20-30 percent in future. The footwear industry has provided jobs to a large number of people, he added.
He appreciated PFMA for organising the exhibition and said that the attendance of large number of foreign buyers was significant for the footwear export. He urged the foreigners to set up joint venture with the local manufacturers to exploit the existing potential due to introduction of conducive and liberal policy by the present government. He said that TDAP would continue to assist and extend its co-operation which would help increase footwear exports.
Earlier, addressing the ceremony, PFMA chairman Khawaja Muhammad Ali said that the footwear industry was likely to witness 20-30 percent increase in the export and said the government should continue the policy, particularly research and development for the next five years so that the industry could sustain.
He highlighted the scope for joint ventures and foreign investment in the footwear industry and urged the foreign buyers to set up a buying house in Lahore, which was a hub of footwear manufacturers. On the occasion, he announced holding of 10th JUFT exhibition on June 28-29, 2008 in the provincial metropolis.