Trade expo begins today, Pak stalls may stay empty

GS Paul

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, December 7

Cross-border Indo-Pak tension and demonetisation are all set to take their toll on the PHD-sponsored five-day Punjab International Trade Expo (PITEX) that is scheduled to be held here from December 8.

Indications are that Pakistan will not take part in the much-awaited trade and cultural bonanza in Amritsar that comes close on the heels of the India International Trade Fair (IITF) at New Delhi in November.

Dr Parveen Rathee, Regional Director of the PHD Chamber, said no confirmation has been received from the Pakistani side. However, the organisers have saved space for them at the venue which will witness around 400 exhibitors from India and abroad.

Pakistan has been a regular participant for the past 10 years along with other SAARC countries as the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry have shown immense enthusiasm for the event in the past.

It has been learnt that due to the disturbance at the border, the Lahore Chambers — through which the maximum number of Pakistanis used to come — was discouraged to attend this time.

Rathee said, “We are in touch with the Rawalpindi Chambers through which visa formalities of 54 exhibitors is under process. On our part, we have set up their stall at the designated spot, but there is no confirmation from their side. This is an issue of national security and we will not go overboard to tell the ministry that the Pakistanis should be allowed to attend,” he said.

The most popular stalls have always been the Pakistani ones — food stalls, fashion line, marble articles, leather goods and footwear.

Last year, the 140 stalls showcasing Pakistani cotton, embroidered fabrics, silver filigree footwear and onyx stone handicrafts attracted the maximum visitors.

This time, the sales may also witness a dip with the restrictions on the customers’ buying capacity due to demonetisation. RS Sachdeva, Co-Chairman, Punjab Committee, PHDCCI, said, “Special provisions for the customers have been made. Three ATMs have been set up. The entire expo premises have been provided wi-fi facility. Debit and credit cards will be accepted at the stalls,” he said.

As many as 124 buyers from Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Egypt and Thailand will engage in one-to-one business meetings with their Indian counterparts under the ‘Reverse Buyer-Seller Meet’.

The Punjab-based companies taking part include automobiles, bicycles, agriculture machinery and implements, textiles, home décor, healthcare, medical equipment, sports goods etc.

This edition of PITEX will feature initiatives like strengthening the nationwide campaign of organ donation. The first day will mark a 5-km run “Run to Save a Life”.

Special children from local NGO Ibadat have been invited for the exhibition. A series of seminars on GST and intellectual property rights, which will benefit the trading class, will also be held.