HYDERABAD, April 7 President of the Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (HCCI) Azizuddin Arain has said that the first -ever trade, industrial and agricultural exhibition in the city - Expo 2010 - scheduled from April 16 to 18, will help boost agro-industrial exports from the district and urged all stakeholders to benefit from this opportunity.

At a press conference in the chamber's office here on Wednesday, he said that HCCI and the district administration would be organising the Expo 2010 in the expo centre, established by the district government early this year.

He said that two expo centres of Lahore and Karachi are working in the country in collaboration with the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan whereas in Hyderabad the Expo centre had been built locally by the then district government out of its own budgetary allocations which is a gift for people of Hyderabad. He said that Hyderabad serves as nerve centre of industrial and agricultural activities of Sindh and Expo 2010 would boost its mage and promote trade activity.

“Karachi has reached a saturation point as far as industrial growth is concerned. You can't get a plot there as its too expensive while there is great potential in Hyderabad”, he said.

He said that infrastructure had been laid by district government and now everyone has to ensure that the city must show its growth in terms of trade activity.

“Our airport must have fuel facility for aircrafts and five-star hotel should be built without delay”, he said.

He underlined the need for qualitative work on Hyderabad-Karachi Super Highway.

He said that 57 stalls would be set up free of cost in the expo for which 120 applications have been received. Ten stalls would be set up in the expo centre's lawns specially for industrial and agricultural items. The exhibition would be inaugurated by Sindh Industries Minister Rauf Siddiqui.

Mr Arain said that invitations had been sent to the country's chambers and diplomatic missions. He expected participation of around 200 traders and businessmen in the event.