Ground Breaking Ceremony for the expansion and re-modelling of the Karachi Expo Centre

Karachi, May 31, 2018 (PPI-OT): Secretary Commerce, Mr. Muhammad Younus Dagha performed the Ground Breaking Ceremony of the Karachi Expo Centre on 31st May, 2018 at the premises of the Karachi Expo Centre in a function attended by a large number of traders and industrialists of the country, members of the diplomatic community, and other senior government officers of the city. The Secretary Commerce in his speech to the gathering informed the audience that the present Expo Centre at Karachi is being expanded and re-modelled with setting up of new facilities like 3 more exhibition halls (at present the Centre has 6 halls), building of a convention Centre for holding trade related functions and conferences, a multi-storey IT tower for offices and building of other facilities like parking plaza etc.

Further, the Secretary informed the audience that the purpose of expansion of the Expo Centre was not only to modernize the present centre but also to create capacity for meeting the increasing trade related needs of the country in view of the trade objectives of the Govt. to earn ever more foreign exchange for financing the developmental needs of the country. Secretary commerce also emphasised that the expansion and up gradation of the KEC will meet major shortcoming in the trade related infrastructure in the country.

The secretary appreciated and applauded the role of trade development authority of Pakistan to have pursued the project and completed legal formalities diligently with in short span of time. He told that ministry of commerce through video conferences with missions abroad has achieved much. The hurdles are identified in these conferences and through collective expertise they’re removed to enhance trade. Secretary commerce also lauded the role of business community in putting in their all out efforts to increase the exports of the country this year ( 2017/18), which have increased overall by 14% from July to April.

About the developments on the trade front, the Secretary told the gathering that there is broad based expansion in the exports of the country this year in terms of both product sectors and destinations. Over all from July to April this year, our textile and clothing export has shown a growth of 8% over the same period; agro food has grown by 30% for the same year; and other sectors like mineral and metal, engineering goods and surgical instruments have also respectively grown by 120%, 13%, and 14%. Besides, exports have also increased to USA, UK and China by 17% (USA) and 8% each (UK and China).

In addition, the Secretary Commerce informed the audience that the expansion of the Karachi Expo Centre was not an isolated effort of the Govt.but, last year, Ministry of Commerce had launched an initiative titled “Emerging Pakistan” with a view to promote various strengths of the country and dispel negative stereotypes about Pakistan, abroad. The secretary apprised the gathering that ECC of the cabinet has approved the three year expansion for PM’s Export Enhancement package and hoped that the same zeal would be shown to complete the project within scheduled time. Building of IT tower is special feature of the expansion and upgradation of the KEC, which will meet the needs of the service sector, he hoped.

The function was also addressed by Mr. Inam Ullah Khan, Secretary, TDAP who gave a brief overview of the Karachi Expo Centre where we have held many national exhibitions where select buyers are invited from around the world in order to show them the entire range of products made in the country. In order to address that need, present KEC is being expanded and modernized in order to create a capacity for holding larger exhibitions for the country. He also was of the view that the intended expansion of the KEC was in keeping with overall up-gradation of the infrastructure of the country under the CPEC (China-Pakistan Economic Corridor); and the expanded KEC will provide export outlet to the series of special economic zones being established under the CPEC program in the country.

For more information, contact:
Director
Information and Communication Division
Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP)
3rd Floor, Block A, Finance and Trade Centre,
P.O. Box No. 1293, Shahrah-e-Faisal,
Karachi 75200, Pakistan
UAN: +92-21-111-444-111
Tel: +92-21-99206487-90, +92-21-99201526
Fax: +92-21-99206461, +92-21-99201526
Email: tdap@tdap.gov.pk, farooque.memon@tdap.gov.pk
Website: www.tdap.gov.pk