A twenty-five member delegation of the Pakistan Furniture Council (PFC) will visit Turkey for one week in October to explore new investment avenues by sharing their vision, expertise for formulation of future policies, economic studies and project-specific reports in addition to promotional efforts.
The delegation will mainly visit “Inegol” to participate in Model Fair Centre, a mega furniture exhibition being held from 17th October in which all kinds of modern and classic furniture products would be displayed. The delegation will have an in-depth discussion with their counterparts in Turkey, said PFC chief executive Mian Kashif Ashfaq in a statement issued here Friday .The leading furniture outlets and factories as well as workshops will also be visited for equipping with latest trends and modern designs. The PFC is focusing on marketing activities in key foreign markets (United States, Japan, European Union, and the Gulf region).
A concerted action is being taken for holding exhibitions; promoting websites; organizing international trade fairs and in-depth market analysis adding, said Ashfaq. “The PFC has invited foreign furniture buyers to the 3-day 9th mega “Interior Pakistan” furniture exhibitions in Pakistan starting from December 15 at Expo Centre, Lahore.”
The PFC chief executive added that participation in international shows should be deemed imperative for furniture exports. He accentuated that the establishment of joint ventures with Turkey for the provision of required machinery can bolster the quality of Pakistan’s furniture products and brings them at par with international standard.
“Therefore, there is a dire need to transform our furniture business from cottage or small scale to highly innovative industry, for which training of skilled labor and high-end supplies are required.”
According to Ashfaq, Pakistan usually exports kitchen and office furniture to the Gulf countries and to the UK, while bedroom furniture is mostly exported to the US.
PFC chief suggested that a chartered vessel service should be started between Pakistan and Turkey on regular trade of goods. He also urged for the establishment of a display center for Pakistani Furniture in Istanbul.
He said many countries have shown interest in Pakistani Furniture; they like our hand-carved designs on furniture with classic and fine finishing and similar designs could be replicated in the Turkish furniture market.
He said the involvement of Turkish enterprises, both in terms of technical and financial assistance in several development projects is reflective of our cordial relations based on mutual trust and sincerity and Turkish furniture sector is willing to enhance its trading ties with Pakistan and there are many areas which can be explored with mutual enterprises in furniture sector in Pakistan.
