| Pakistani delegation attend 2nd South Asian Countries Commodity Fair in Kunming, China |
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| Sunday,June 07,2009 Posted: 13:45 BJT(0545 GMT) |
| From:APP Article type:Reproduced |
Over eighty exhibitors from Pakistan are expected to participate in the 2nd South Asian Countries Commodity Fair to be held in Kunming, capital of southwest China’s Yunnan Province, from June 6 to 10, it was learnt here on Friday.
Besides exhibitors, senior officials from Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), Pakistani Diplomats as well as Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry will also attend the Fair.
The exhibition will be jointly hosted by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, the Yunnan provincial government and the trade ministries of Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, the Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
Meanwhile, China's Vice Commerce Minister Chen Jian has said the fair is part of a drive to encourage South Asian exporters to enter the Chinese market.
"Trade between China and South Asia has increased rapidly in recent years to 66 billion US dollars annually, but the balance is heavily in China’s favor," he observed.
China is determined to boost imports from South Asia, Chen said. "We have reduced tariffs on goods from South Asian countries. We have encouraged South Asian countries to come to promote their products in China. The 2nd South Asia fair is the most tangible example of our efforts."
Those attending the fair will include major Chinese importers as well as businesses interested in investing in South Asian countries.
The fair organizers will provide participants with free exhibition facilities and meet all transportation costs within China, as well as assisting with customs clearance and product promotion.
The 2nd South Asian Commodities Fair will be held in parallel and share facilities with the 17th Kunming Import and Export Fair.
According to Sun Xiaohong, director general of the Yunnan Department of Commerce, the Kunming Import and Export Fair had been
held successfully for 16 years and is one of the top ten trade fairs in China. "The two fairs will complement each other and attract more business," he said.
The fair would also provide the opportunity for a high level meeting between China and officials from the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). The meeting will focus on the global economic situation, enhancing cooperation, removing trade protectionism, and poverty reduction, he said.
The first South Asian Commodities fair was held in Beijing in 2007 and attracted over 300 participants.
The opening ceremony of the 2nd South Asian Countries Commodity Fair will begin in the morning on June 6, at the Kunming International Convention and Exhibition Center.
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