JEDDAH, 1 February 2005 — A large number of Saudi businessmen are expected to participate in Expo Pakistan 2005, a mega trade event slated for Feb. 2 to 5 in Karachi.

Hijab Gul, commercial consul at the Consulate General of Pakistan, told a press briefing that similar exhibitions would be held later in other Pakistani cities. He expressed hope that the volume of Saudi-Pakistan trade would increase after the Karachi exhibition. “Pakistan has achieved significant economic success during the past five years and the targets for exports and economic development have been achieved. Foreign exchange reserves now stand at over $12 billion, he added.

“Our GDP growth has exceeded 6 percent, inflation is down to around 5 percent, foreign exchange reserves are now equivalent to almost a year’s imports and exports have increased to 43 percent,” said Gul highlighting the economic achievements of the present government. As a result of these developments, Pakistan offers major opportunities to businessmen from across the world for joint ventures and investment,” said Gul.

Asked about the benefits participants will get from Expo 2005, he said the event would provide them opportunities to clinch instant business deals. Other benefits would include:

• One-stop sourcing for entire range of Pakistani high quality, value-priced products and services.

• Opportunities to interact with over 500 top Pakistani businesses.

• Ideal platform for new alliances and joint ventures.

• Experience the true potential of Pakistan for trade and market opportunities.

Expo Pakistan 2005 would be the largest ever international commercial event in Pakistan in which five to six hundred exhibitors of Pakistani goods and services will display their full and latest range of products. There will also be one to one meetings for prospective investors for investment and joint ventures opportunities, the official said.

Highlighting the exhibition’s objectives, he said: “The exhibition is exclusively targeted at senior businessmen and multinational executives, foreign businesspersons and investors, opinion leaders from media and trade, chambers and government officials.

“ The event will play a key role in widening the international appeal for Pakistani products and services,” he said.

Technical sessions and conferences held during the expo, will give the participants an opportunity to understand the sectoral and overall opportunities that Pakistan offers.

Following is the list of guests from Saudi Arabia who have confirmed participation: M. Q. Zaman, general manager of Haji Abdullah Alireza & Co.; Ahmed Saad Al-Ghamdi, president, and Saad Ahmed Al-Ghamdi, vice president of Oases Trading Est.; Ahmad Bahjat Hijazi, manager of Jeddah Chamber of Commerce & Industry; Mazen Mohammad Batterjee, vice president, and Sheikh Khalid Abdulkader Naseef, Dr. Mohammad Rahmatullah Qureshi, production & quality control manager, Qazi Shoaib Abdul Aziz of Batterjee Holding Co.; Khalid O. Balubaid, executive vice president, Tanweerul Irfan Ghayoor of Omar A. Balubaid Company Ltd.; Mohammed H. Zakaria, vice president, business development of Gulf United Investment; Al-Bassam Ziad Bassam, president & board member JCCI of Al-Bassam Trading Co.; I.M. Al-Shamsan of Al-Shamsan Corp.; Abdul Mohsen M. Aldress, managing director Saad Aldress & Sons Co. Ltd.; Abbas Zaid of Saudi Industrial Export Co.; Muhammad Zubair Badar, CEO, Bilal Mohammed Zubair, vice president of Al-Raee Foods Supply Est.; Mohammed Ilyas Mohammad Ibrahim, public relations manager, Makkah Chamber of Commerce & Industry; Mohammad Anas Badar, general manager of Mazen M. Bahareth Organization; Khalid Javaid Cheema, commercial manager, United Medical Group; Omar Saleh Babaker of Saleh Abdulaziz Babaker Sons Co.; Mazhar Bari, regional sales manager of Saleh & Abdulaziz Abahsain Co. Ltd. and Rizwan Ahmed, business development director, Naba Int. Comm. Est.

Meanwhile, a 31-member delegation of Saudi businessmen is leaving for Pakistan to participate in a meeting of Saudi and Pakistani businessmen representing the Council of Saudi Chambers of Commerce & Industry and the Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce & Industry scheduled to be held from Feb. 7-9 in Islamabad. Ali A. Al-Munjim will lead the delegation.