About 120 sports goods manufacturers and exporters, mainly from Sialkot, participated in the world’s largest trade fair of sports goods, ISPO-2013, in Munich, Germany. Pakistan Trade Development Authority (TDAP) sponsored and extended support to new exhibitors from Sialkot under its policy to encourage new entrants in the field of export of Pakistani goods.
Ambassador Abdul Basit visited the Pakistan Pavilion and met Pakistani exhibitors. While exchanging views with them about the business opportunities that such trade fairs provide, the Ambassador said that the quality and the wide range of products displayed by Pakistani exhibitors reflected how the business community was making its efforts to keep the economy of Pakistan going despite many difficulties that cropped up in the wake of Afghanistan crises.
Earlier, the Ambassador held a meeting with the exhibition group director of Messe International (the company that organizes ISPO every year), Mr. Markus Hefter, and discussed with him organizational arrangements of the world’s largest trade fair. Mr. Hefter informed that Pakistan was one of the most important countries that have been participating in ISPO since 1970, the year ISPO was set up. The Ambassador said Pakistan was one of the leading countries that had been producing and exporting quality sports goods to all the international brands in the field. Pakistan Pavilion should be given special treatment by the ISPO management in terms of space allocation and country promotion, he added. Mr. Hefter informed that this year a photo exhibition showcasing Pakistan’s landscape, its culture and people has also been organized to promote the country. The Ambassador also underscored the need of conducting capacity building and training programmes for the new entrants. In response, Mr. Hefter informed that Messe Munich had launched free online seminars to educate the new exhibitors as how to develop a company profile, organization and submission of documents and on other business related issues. Pakistan’s Honorary Consul in Munich, Dr. Pantelis Christian Poetis, also accompanied the Ambassador during the meeting and visit to Pakistan Pavilion in the exhibition.