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Frankfurt textile fair Dawood wants elaborate participation from Pakistan next year

FRANKFURT: Commerce Minister Abdul Razak Dawood on Thursday underlined the need for an elaborate Pakistani participation in Heimtextil next year with new products and innovative ideas.

He was talking to Pakistani exhibitors as well as the officials of Messe Frankfurt, the organisers of the largest home-textile fair in the world Heimtextil here. Chairman Messe Frankfurt Michael Zitzewitz, Managing Director Michael Peters, Stienwarz, Pakistani Ambassador Gul Hanif and Joint Secretary (Textiles) Commerce and EPB officials were also present on the occasion.

He also called for participation in this fair with the latest trends and advised exhibitors to benefit from the expertise available at Heimtextil from all over the world. About 3,000 exhibitors from 65 countries are displaying state-of-the-art products at the fair.

A large contingent of 126 exhibitors are participating from Pakistan while 273 from India and 109 from China.

Showing keen interest in Heimtextil, he said Pakistani exhibitors should learn the way of displaying their products at international level to attract foreign buyers. He also expressed satisfaction over the large Pakistani attendance at Heimtextil.

The minister indicated willingness to consider Pakistani participation at two jewellery shows Ambiente and Tendence to be held in February and August at Frankfurt this year.

He has also shown interest in sending Pakistani delegation at the auto-parts show Auto Mechanika to be held at Frankfurt in September this year.

Exhibiting interest in this auto-parts show, Dawood issued instructions for elaborate participation in Auto Mechanika.

Speaking on the occasion, Managing Director of Messe Frankfurt, Peters said that his organisation has planned the extension of the exhibition halls in next two years and more space will be available for the new and existing exhibitors to display their products in an effective manner.

Earlier, on the opening day of Heimtextil on Wednesday, the minister also visited various Pakistani stalls at the show and asked about the point of views of the exhibitors.

He said Heimtextil began in 1971 with 600 exhibitors which have grown to 3,000 this year with the maximum participation from abroad.

With over 37 product groups including kitchen textile, bathroom textile, home accessories, decorative fabrics, wallpapers and wall covering, carpeting, bedding, filling, terry products, furniture fabrics and leather, textile handicrafts, design studios, printing systems, home engineering, this exhibition provides a wide and lucrative opportunities to sell products. APP