KARACHI, Sept 5: Exhibitions play a vital role in boosting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and over 25 per cent FDI in the country during the last year was on account of these exhibitions. This was stated by the president of the Karachi Chambers of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Khalid Feroze, while speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the 7th Print-Pak Exhibition-2005, organized by the Pakistan Association of Printing and Graphic Art Industry (PAPGAI) at the Karachi Expo center.

The ceremony was also addressed by PAPGAI chairman Abdul Aziz Gauba, chairman Exhibition Committee Saeed Presswala, Vice-chairman Mohammad Ashraf and Khalid Jamil.

The KCCI president pointed out that many joint-venture agreements were also inked at these exhibitions. Such mega events not only help promote the exports of our products in the international market but also elevate the image of the country in the comity of world nations, he added.

Mr Feroze observed that an unprecedented number of foreign delegations from various countries visited Pakistan to participate in these exhibitions.

He stressed on adopting concrete measures to meet the requirement of trained manpower.

In this regard, he called for the establishment of training institutes by the government in various parts of the country for the development of human resources.

Mr Feroze described the privatization of PTCL and the new investment coming in the telecom sector a positive outcome of these exhibitions being held here after the Karachi Expo Centre became operational.

The KCCI president criticized the international media for painting a negative image of Pakistan after 9/11. But these exhibitions proved that there was no law and order problem here, he added.

Mr Feroze recalled the first Expo Pakistan exhibition organized by the Government of Pakistan five months back which was participated by over 1,100 foreign delegates who witnessed that there was no law and order problem in the country.—APP