KARACHI: Over 600 foreign dignitaries from 52 countries representing different sectors will participate in the Expo Pakistan beginning today (Thursday) at the Karachi Expo Centre.

Briefing the media about the event TDAP chief executive Tariq Puri said that the 6th Expo Pakistan to be opened by Minister of Commerce Makhdoom Amin Fahim will have international flavor because the Chinese pavilion will be centre of attraction to mark the 60th anniversary of Pak China relations.

He said that there will also be a Japanese pavilion to celebrate Pak-Japan 60th anniversary of bilateral relations falling next year.

The TDAP chief said in total 300 stalls were booked, out of which 10 booths will be displaying Chinese goods, including electric bicycle and 15 stalls belong to Japanese products. The remaining 275 stalls are booked by local producers.

He further said that the TDAP expected that around $100 million worth of export orders would be booked during the 4-day mega event. This will be improvement over last expo when the country got $80 million business.

Tariq Puri said that on the sidelines of the Expo there will be investment conference being jointly organised by TDAP and Board of Investment (BoI).

He disclosed that the representatives of 13 bilateral business forums will be attending the conference and there is highly encouraging response from the international community.

Mr Puri said the focus of the expo this year is on non-textile sectors and commercial councilors of Pakistan the world over were specifically advised to concentrate on non-traditional products.

Therefore, the stalls booked by local producers will have diversified products on display.The 4-day event will be equally divided for visits by foreign buyers and for general public. Spot sales will also be allowed.

When the Expo Pakistan was planned the city of Karachi was witnessing unrest but today there is a festive mood and the event has given impetus to allied trades and to hotel industry.

Responding to a question Tariq Puri said that the cost of the event had been cut from over Rs120 million to Rs100 million.

The income earned by the TDAP from space rent of stalls is Rs15 million and this year no complimentary stalls have been given to any organisation.

The TDAP will now concentrate on value addition in agriculture produce, minerals, stones, plastic and chemicals

However, he admitted that many foreign buyers were coming as state guests and their boarding and lodging and air fair cost is being met by TDAP.