ISLAMABAD, April 20: A 220-member Pakistan engineering trade delegation is leaving for Germany on Friday to participate in the Hanover Messe 2006.

More than 6,000 exhibitors from 75 countries are expected to display their engineering products and technologies in the world’s largest exhibition of engineering manufactured goods and advanced technologies, being held in the German industrial city of Hanover on April 24-28.

Minister for Industries, Production and Special Initiatives Jahangir Khan Tareen is heading the delegation. Engineering Development Board CEO Imtiaz A. Rastgar and chairman of the Business Development Group’s organizing committee chairman Nabeel Hashmi are accompanying the minister.

More than 60 engineering companies from all over Pakistan would display their goods at Hanover Messe.

“Pakistan will be featured prominently in the subcontracting, power transmission and factory automation halls. Elaborate arrangements have been made at a grand Pakistan Pavilion that will house a business lounge, and also show a special multi-media presentation on the country and the engineering sector in particular”, stated an official announcement.

“It is encouraging to see the increase in the number of Pakistani exhibitors this year, more than twice than last year,” said Jahangir Khan Tareen.

It showed how receptive our engineering sector had been to efforts being made by the government to facilitate their participation in international fairs, the minister added.

“I am sure there are many more companies which deserve attention but this is just the second year of our official presence at Hanover. We have a long-term goal in mind”, he said.

Pakistan was now being seen in a different perspective in international markets, thanks to the success of second generation reforms introduced by the government, he said.