PHDCCI to host SAARC buyer-seller meet in city

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 22

The PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) is set to organise the first Reverse Buyer Seller Meet (RBSM), supported by the Ministry of Commerce of the Government of India, in Amritsar from December 4 to 6.

About 150 select buyers will be in Amritsar from SAARC nations, including Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, besides Iran, that would have dedicated one-to-one business meetings with Indian manufacturers, Rajiv Bali, Chairman of the Punjab committee of the PHD Chamber, said today.

He said Indian companies would actively showcase their products to foreign buyers in various sectors, including automobile, bicycle, agriculture machinery and implements, textile, home interior, healthcare, medical equipment and sports goods.

RS Sachdeva, co-chairman of the Punjab committee, said the chamber has received a lot of interest from multiple trade delegates from the SAARC countries who are probably looking forward to great  trading opportunities in the Indian market.

RBSM would be a three-day meet, for the first time in the region, to network with foreign buyers and manufacturers.

“Besides 150 buyers from SAARC nations and Iran, there will be another delegation of 100 buyers from Pakistan alone, a significant platform for small and medium industry in the region. This means there will be a total of 250 buyers who are keen to have tie-ups and one-to-one interaction with the Indian manufacturers to discuss business opportunities,” he said.

High-level delegations from industrial bodies in SAARC nations like the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the Bhutan Chamber of Commerce are visiting the RBSM.

The participating industrial federations have shown interest in signing a few memorandums of understanding (MoUs) which would benefit trade across the borders, informed Dr Praveen Rathee, regional director of the PHD Chamber. He said the RBSM would not only help in widening market reach in the region but also give wide exposure to the international buyers.