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Trade
is a very ancient profession in china. The history is evident that
over the centuries, China remained the world's most popular trading
partner. The modern China, of course is without any iota of doubt,
world's strongest market. Capturing almost 70 percent of the world
trade, China is expanding its import and export avenues and
exploring new potentials for enhancing trade activities in different
parts of the country. Xinjiang Autonomous Region is yet another
region of China, having a great potential for trade. Located at the
strategically important geographical point, Xinjiang's Kashgar and
Urumqi regions are emerging as highly important trade centers.
Kashgar in particular has become a gateway for trade with China for
the businessmen of the entire region, particularly for those,
belonging to Pakistan, Central Asia, Afghanistan and India. To
elaborate the potential, Chinese government has started holding an
annual regional trade fair at Kashgar and Perfectural Administration
of Kashgar is making all out efforts to make it a mega trade event
in the region.
This year, the 2nd Kashgar Trade Festival was held from June 28th to
July 3rd. Apart from Pakistan, Afghanistan and almost all the states
of Central Asia made comprehensive participation in it. Though
Pakistan's participation was highly unimpressive and rather
pathetic, yet the Kashgar Perfectural Administration and the Chinese
government made all possible efforts to hold the event in the most
befitting manner. Mr. Akbar Gupur, Commissioner of Perfectural
Administration of Kashgar must be commended for making highly
remarkable efforts and arrangements for the amicable and amazing
holding of the event. The way the event was held, one can easily say
that in a coming few years, this Kashgar Trade Fair is poised to
become the biggest and the most popular trade event of the entire
region. The event where provided the traders and governments of the
regional countries as well as Chinese entrepreneurs to introduce
their exportable products to the larger regional and international
markets, there it also provided a wonderful opportunity to the
officials and manufacturers of different regional countries to meet
with each other and to explore new avenues for enhancing bilateral
trade and for the promotion of their products in each other's
markets. Kashgar Trade Fair also provides an opportunity for the
cultural and social exchange amongst the regional countries and in
future, it appears, the participating countries would also be
exploring this avenue with added interest. At the Fair, where
different stalls of the participants were promoting the products of
different countries, there colorful and mouthwatering food stalls of
different participating nations and their other social and cultural
activities created a spectacular atmosphere for a comprehensive
social and cultural exchange. The organizers had made highly
appreciable arrangements for the participants as ample spaces for
setting up stalls were allocated, free of cost, to the participants
while a remarkable discipline and security was maintained, coupled
with all the required facilities. However, the only area where the
hosts lacked was the availability of facilities for the foreign
media, invited to cover the event. It is hoped that as the event
will progress, in the coming years, the hosts, for sure, would care
for establishing a fully equipped media center during the event.
For Pakistan's future participation in the Kashgar trade Fair, it is
highly recommended that an appropriate policy and strategy should be
put in place.
It is recommended that a committee comprising members of Chambers of
Commerce and Industry from all industrial zones, representatives of
commerce ministry, representatives of Exports Promotion Bureau and
officials from Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This committee should
give the NOC to genuine exporters, after going through the details
of what they are going to display at the exhibition and what is
their potential and then the Chinese embassy should be requested to
give visas and invitations, only to the said NOC holders. If it is
not done, Pakistan would continue to utilized this wonderful
opportunity to enhance its exports to China and other regional
markets. |
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