LAHORE - Luo Qiang, leader of the high ranking Chinese business delegation, on Sunday said that there was a vast scope for further enhancement of bilateral trade between Pakistan and China in furniture sector and urged the private sector of two countries to establish joint ventures for further upgradation of business ties.
During visit to 6th Interiors Pakistan exhibition here at the Expo Centre, Qiang praised the quality of calligraphic engraved furniture and admitted the fact that the furniture items produced in the country have great demand in international markets.
He offered huge trade opportunities to Pakistani business community in furniture sector and invited Pakistani counterparts to visit China to explore further avenues of mutual investment in various sectors.
Talking to journalists, Qiang said the purpose of their visit to Pakistan was to share experiences and exchange views with local business community and explore new opportunities of matchmakings with Pakistani counterparts.
He said many Chinese investors were expected to set up industrial units in Pakistan under China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and they should give preference to local people in jobs that would help in reducing unemployment and poverty from the country.
He further said that both the countries share a border and have a collective population of more than 1.5 billion, but the trade activity between the two countries still needs a boost.
Talking about Pakistani furniture, he expressed that China may have a better market for high-quality furniture goods produced in Pakistan. He said that China was the largest trading partner of Pakistan and bilateral trade had surpassed $16 billion in 2015, which was encouraging.
He vociferously acclaimed Pakistani furniture designers and craftsmen and suggested that these experts should play their part in enhancing furniture exports.
He said, "The country has excellent craftsmen and designers, who can virtually give life to a piece of wood." “Pakistani craftsmen should work in this particular area to earn much-needed foreign exchange," he added. He termed their visit to the mega exhibition as a truly memorable experience and aimed at exploring new opportunities for enhancing volume of mutual trade in furniture sector.
On the occasion, Pakistan Furniture Council (PFC) Chief Executive Mian Kashif Ashfaq said that the country’s exports furniture products worth $8 million to $12 million annually, but these figures do not mirror the actual potential of the industry and its capacity to produce high-quality furniture items. In this regard, he suggested local exporters to actively take part in international shows and furniture exhibitions to ostentatiously present Pakistan's ability to produce jaw-dropping furniture items.
He further said both countries have still great potential to improve bilateral trade and enhanced connectivity between their private sectors would help realising these goals. He said that the country was providing easy access to Chinese companies in its market and China should reciprocate similar facility to Pakistani business community besides this, China should also bring technology and set up industrial units in Pakistan.
While responding to a question, he said that despite the massive influx of inexpensive Chinese furniture in the markets, Pakistani handmade furniture is still admired among masses for its customary designs, durability and quality.
Later, the members of the delegation visited all the stalls and minutely took keen interest in the designs of the furniture products and exchanged their expertise with Pakistani counterparts.