KARACHI: The country’s economic growth is set to rise amid better law and order and improved business environment, said Governor Sindh Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan on Wednesday.

Speaking as a chief guest at the inaugural ceremony of Texpo-2016 at the Governor House, he said joint efforts of public and private sectors could help raise country’s exports.

The exhibition, organised by the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), houses over 350 stalls displaying all ranges of textile products from yarn to value-added textile products from premier brands of the country.

“The textile industry plays a pivotal role in our economy by having major share in exports and providing the largest number of job opportunities,” the governor said. Pakistan was the eighth largest exporter of textile in Asia, he added.

However, he stressed that the private sector should concentrate on agro-based industries which are mostly suitable for a country like Pakistan but it was equally important that more value addition should be achieved to earn higher foreign exchange through exports.

Welcoming foreign delegates, Commerce Minister Khurram Dastgir Khan said the exhibition, to be held at the Karachi Expo Centre, would help them arrange business-to-business meetings and deals with local exporters.

He added that the foreign delegates during their visit to Texpo-2016 would also have the opportunity of looking at the soft image of the country as special cultural events and traditional goods would be at display.

Sri Lankan Minister for Industry and Commerce Rishad Badruddin, who was special guest of honour on the occasion, said Pakistan and Sri Lanka had close and warm relations based on mutual interest and respect.

He said the two nations were presently having strong bondages and enjoyed cooperation in trade, defence and culture, and added that the free trade agreement (FTA) singed by both the countries in 2001 has helped boost bilateral trade.

Published in Dawn, April 7th, 2016