Indian textile majors eye Pakistani market

Many India textile majors are visiting neighbouring Pakistan and

finding it a lucrative destination to build their presence in the country. Keeping similarity between the culture and tradition of both the countries in mind, these visitors are confident of establishing themselves in Pakistan.

Vinod K Ladia, Chairman of Synthetic & Rayon Textiles Export Promotion Council (SRTEPC), for instance, who visited Pakistan with a 60-strong delegation, sees a 100 per cent increase in exports of synthetic or manmade fabric to Pakistan in the next three years as trade is opening up fast between the two sides. “Our present manmade fabric export to Pakistan is $700 million (Rs 3,791 crores) and we want to take it to $1.4 billion (Rs 76,090 crores) by 2015,” he told media on the sidelines of intexpo, an exhibition displaying products of Indian synthetic fibre manufacturers. “We want to see strong relationship with Pakistan in every field including health and education,” he added.

Ladia says, the growing business ties between Pakistan and India would help introduce a common currency in the Saarc region. “We expect a very good response from (consumers of) Pakistan in coming months,” reiterated NP Singh, President-Exports, Siyaram’s.

Most Indian exhibitors were first time visitors to Pakistan and were exploring business partners like distributors and retailers. Over 40 Indian textile companies with big names like Raymond and Siyaram’s displayed their products in the exhibition. The exhibition was organised by SRTEPC with the support of India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO), a government agency, for promoting the country’s external trade. The Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) are facilitating the exhibitions.