Pakistan Trade Exhibition inaugurated in Colombo
'Vibrant Pakistan-sharing excellence' the Pakistan Trade Exhibition
2008, in Colombo was concluded in Colombo.
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Exhibition: One of the exhibitor stalls at the event. |
The three-day exhibition, jointly organised by the Pakistan Trade
Development Authority and the High Commission for Pakistan in Colombo
facilitated the business community in the first two days.
Nearly 100 companies from varied business sectors from Pakistan were
seen displaying their wares in colourful trade stalls at the Sirimavo
Bandaranaike Memorial Exhibition Centre. Welcoming the guests and
participants to the event High Commissioner for Pakistan in Colombo
Shahzad A. Chaudhry said that the exhibition is symbolic of sharing
Pakistan's economic progresses and achievements with friends.
The Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Sri Lanka was the first-ever
Pakistan signed with any nation, showing the close and intimate
relations between the two countries, he said. Mentioning the good
dividends it has given to both countries, he proposed further expansion
to the agreement.
"We must now expand the FTA to include small and medium engineering
goods, preferential tariffs on heavier engineering goods and include
services and investments in our agreement, to give us the real fillip to
realize the true potential of trade between our two countries," he said.
He encouraged the Sri Lankan business community to invest in
Pakistan. "With a sustaining growth rate of over seven per cent, the
economy has doubled in size. Pakistan today has been declared as the
second easiest country in Asia to do business in, with only USD 150,000
each to register a company and start a business," he said.
Hundred per cent equity holding with unrestricted flow of capital,
principal or profit; inclusion of retail marketing; rapidly developing
infrastructure; 100 million strong youth population and the rapidly
increasing numbers of the middle class population, he highlighted as
other investor-drawing factors in the economy.
The exhibition itself represents the richness, diversity and quality
of the economic progress of Pakistan, said Minister of Export
Development and International Trade, Prof. G.L. Peiris, who
ceremoniously opened the event.
The decisions of the Pakistan Minister of International Trade to lift
the ceiling on betel leaf exports and the consent to trading herbal
products, he cited as two examples of Pakistani support, in the Sri
Lankan Government's endeavour. "Commitment to social equity, going
beyond the volumes of trading is a unique aspect of trade relations
between Pakistan and Sri Lanka," he said.
The opening ceremony was well attended by the business community,
government official of the relevant ministries and departments,
politicians and the general public. |
