Pcmea striving to make int’l carpet exhibition a success: Usman Ashraf
Usman Ashraf, Senior Vice Chairman of Pakistan Carpet Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PCMEA), said Sunday that contacts are being made with international investors and buyers regarding the Hanade International Carpet Exhibition, which will take place in Pakistan in October.
PCMEA senior vice chairman also expressed his hope that the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan and other relevant government departments would cooperate and support the international exhibition. He appreciated the agreement between the Government of Pakistan and International Monetary Fund (IMF) as he chaired a meeting to review international carpet exhibition arrangements. As a result of this agreement, the country will be stabilized economically, he said. In addition to Chairman Carpet Training Institute Ejazur Rehman, Senior Central leaders Abdul Rauf Malik, Parvez Hanif, Riaz Ahmed, Saeed Khan, Muhammad Akbar Malik, Major (retd) Akhtar Nazir, Shahid Hassan, and Umair Usmain also attended the meeting. International carpet exhibition preparations and arrangements were explained to the participants of the meeting. In an effort to approach international markets, particularly those ignored by the government, Usman Ashraf has urged the government to devise a strategy. Further, he demanded that Pakistani missions abroad create a contact directory and that the government direct them to do so. Missions abroad should invite carpet investors and importers and brief them about the handmade Pakistani carpets and their utility, he said. For a positive and attractive result in international markets, Pakistani manufacturers and exporters should also be educated about product quality preparations. The association is establishing correspondence with foreign buyers and considering sending delegations to countries where Pakistani products are in high demand. A support program for Pakistani manufacturers and delegations to be able to prepare export-quality products was also suggested by him. Pakistani manufacturers and exporters may also gain access to international markets through the upcoming international exhibition in Pakistan, according to PCMEA’s senior vice chairman.
Several contacts have been made with international participants of the exhibition and he urged the Pakistan Trade Development Authority and other departments to assist the PCMEA in extending invitations and ensuring the exhibition is a success. According to him, this exhibition will be a milestone for Pakistani industries, which will also benefit the government by creating employment opportunities for the unemployed. It is our goal to convince as many foreign buyers as possible to participate in the exhibition. It is our request that the government work with us in this regard in order to provide the best hospitality package for foreign buyers,” he said. A successive exhibition in Pakistan could build the country’s soft image in the world, and it could prove to be an effective platform for promoting Pakistani handmade carpets. International buyers will be attracted to Lahore during the 39th World Exhibition of Carpets during October 2023.