While Pakistan mulls over its commitment to remove all existing bans on Indian products, domestic companies from wide-ranging sectors such as textiles, transport, agriculture, gems & jewellery, steel, handlooms and construction equipment will showcase their products over the week-end in Lahore.

The ‘India Show’, jointly organised by Indian industry chamber FICCI, two Pakistani industry chambers and the Pakistani and Indian Commerce Ministries, is part of efforts made by the two countries to normalise bilateral trade relations.“The India Show comes amidst increased efforts by the respective Governments at confidence-building measures leading to the possible grant of the Non-Discriminatory Market Access (NDMA) status to India by Pakistan,” according to a release by FICCI.

While Pakistan has removed export ban on more than 4,000 items following the start of the bilateral trade opening process two years ago, around 1,000 items such as automobiles, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, textiles and chemicals continue to be restricted. Islamabad has promised early action in the area, but New Delhi wants firm dates before it takes the dialogue process further.

More than 100 Indian companies will participate in the three-day show starting on February 14.

The show is also a conscious effort to build on the success of the first show which has carved a niche for itself.

“Most of the Indian exhibitors exhausted their stocks of goods in the first few days of the opening of the ‘India Show’ in Pakistan, which was held in February 2012 in Lahore,” the release said.

Indian industry has been working consistently over the last two years with its partners in Pakistan such as the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, towards establishing a strong foundation of India-Pakistan economic ties.

Related Topics
comment COMMENT NOW