Foreign investors evince interest in furniture expo

Over a score of foreign furniture manufacturers and investors have evinced keen interest in a three-day "9th Pakistan Interiors Exhibition 2017", commencing from December 15 at Lahore Expo Centre. Pakistan Furniture Council (PFC) Chief Executive Mian Kashif Ashfaq told a gathering that the industry is rife with anticipation for various opportunities and ideas that the PFC will offer. Over 100 local and foreign companies have confirmed their participation in the mega show by getting their stall booked.
Mian Kashif said the PFC continues to expand its global footprint by welcoming visitors from different countries including China, Italy, Singapore, USA, Australia, Japan, Philippines, the UK, Bulgaria, Denmark, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Vietnam. The exhibition would offer a full range of furniture with extensive selection of modern and contemporary styles for dining, bedroom, living room, office, occasional, children, outdoor as well as furniture fittings and hardware.
According to him, Pakistan's wood industry is well developed and captures 95% of the country's total market for furniture. The country has more than 700 units of wooden furniture with Chiniot alone meeting 80% of furniture demand in the country, Gujrat with world-class furniture, Peshawar, Lahore and Karachi being important sale/purchase centres.
Secretary PFC Hamid Mahmood suggested that the government should encourage and support business houses to invest and develop trustworthy furniture trade markets. He said that Europe would be the biggest market for Pakistan's textile products in future.