KARACHI, July 26: The Export Promotion Bureau will hold three dates shows at Mumbai, Dhaka and Jakarta from August 31 to September 10, 2004 to promote exports of Pakistani fresh and dried dates.

According to EPB director Mohammad Essa Jalbani here on Monday, 15 leading exporters will be selected for displaying dates at Pakistan dates shows. Women entrepreneurs, new exporters and small and medium enterprises will also be given special consideration for space at the shows, he added.

Pakistani delegation will leave on August 29 to take part in the shows. He pointed out that the first show will be held at Mumbai from August 31 to September 2, while the second show at Dhaka on September 4-5. The third show will be held at Indonesian capital Jakarta from September 7 to 10.

The EPB director said that Pakistan's export of dates to India was estimated at about 60,000 tons per annum. Similarly, vast opportunities existed for export of fresh and dried dates to Bangladesh and far eastern countries. -APP