PHD chamber to expand its footprint

Neeraj Bagga

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, December 7

The PHD Chamber has decided to make its presence felt at the international level by including west and central Asian countries in the Punjab International Trade Exhibition (PITEX) from next year.

For the first time in 10 years, the chamber included SAARC nations in the current edition of PITEX, which is underway. The PHD chamber director (exhibition), Naveen Seth, said talks were already underway with prospective businessmen in Iran, which falls in West Asia. Subsequently, more countries from adjoining Central Asian region would be incorporated in the trade expo, he added.

Similar to sponsored visit and stay of buyers drawn from the SAARC region with the assistance of the Union Ministry of Commerce in the present edition, buyers and traders from the Central Asian countries will be offered free of cost travel and stay in the holy city next year.

He said, “India being at the confluence of trade routes connecting SAARC and Central Asian countries is a natural trading partner for this region. But unfortunately, despite the contiguous borders, our trade with nations in this region is very low.”

“The holy city has excellent infrastructure to accommodate trading partners and exchange cargo from these regions. For instance, it has Sri Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport, which is already receiving daily flights from the two important Central Asian countries, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan,” he added.

With its state-of-the-art Integrated Check Post (ICP), commonly known as land port, there is daily exchange of cargo between Pakistan and Afghanistan, which is well connected by road to Iran and other nations in the Central Asian region. India’s land port at the Attari-Wagah Joint Check Post in Amritsar receives cargo from Afghanistan via Pakistan and Chabahar seaport in South Eastern Iran.

Citing an instance Seth said India and Afghanistan had signed a Preferential Tariff Agreement in 2003 to promote bilateral trade, but despite the accord trade did not proliferate much. The trade was between US$ 568 to 684 million in last few years, with India’s exports amounting to US$ 422 million in 2014-15 and imports of US$ 262 million.

Meanwhile, PHD Chamber along with Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce will organise “Make in India” exhibition at Islamabad in February next year.