The 10th edition of Punjab International Trade Expo (PITEX) – 2015, a five day mega trade exhibition in collaboration with the Punjab government as the host state to be organized by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry. PITEX is an ideal platform for the Indian manufacturers and traders to showcase goods at the international level. Besides Indian companies, exhibitors from Pakistan, Egypt and Afghanistan will showcase their products..

The PITEX, which will be inaugurated by Punjab’s Minister for Industries and Commerce Madan Mohan Mittal on December 4. Mr. Anil Joshi, Punjab’s local government minister, will attend the valedictory function on December 7.

The decade-old PITEX, a familiar name for the Punjabis, has established itself as a major trade expo in the region and generates business enquiries more than Rs.250 crore every year, R.S. Sachdeva, co-chairman of the Punjab committee of PHD Chamber, said today.

Sachdeva said that they have provided the world-class infrastructure at the expo and like previous editions this time too they are expecting business enquiries would cross the Rs.250 crore ($38 million) mark.

Representatives of Pakistan-based six chambers of commerce, including the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Sheikhupura Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Gujranwala Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Jhelum Chamber of Commerce and Industry, will participate in the five-day trade expo.

The foreign participants are from textiles, fabrics, gems and jewellery, services sectors, among others.

Simultaneously, region’s first Reverse Buyer-Seller Meet (RBSM), supported by the Ministry of Commerce of the Government of India, is part of this year’s PITEX.

The RBSM will see the visiting chambers representing SAARC nations. It would be a three-day meet to network with the foreign buyers and manufacturers.

A delegation of more than 150 businessmen from SAARC nations, including Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, will be here from December 4 to 6 during the RBSM.

Important issues among neighboring countries to boost business and trade, including a better road connectivity, opening up of more trading points across the border and sharing of information among the leading trading houses, are likely to be discussed, said Dr. Praveen Rathee, Regional Director of the PHD Chamber.

The PITEX would see the largest Pakistan trade delegation to India. More than 450 exhibitors are participating in the trade expo, who are categorised into 11 pavilions namely agriculture, food and farm, travel, tour, auto and handicrafts, etc.

At the RBSM, the PHD Chamber would host a roundtable conference of the visiting chambers from the SAARC nations.

Dr Rathee said that the recent initiatives taken by the Punjab government to boost industrialisation and the upcoming reverse buyer-seller meet will definitely give push to sub-continental trade..

About 150 select buyers will be in Amritsar from SAARC nations, including Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Sri Lanka, besides Iran, who would be engaged in one-to-one business meetings with Indian manufacturers.

Punjab-based companies will showcase their products, including textile, agricultural machinery and implements, automobiles, bicycles, home decor, healthcare and medical equipment and sports goods to foreign buyers.

The PITEX held at Ranjit Avenue in Amritsar from December 3 which will continue till December 7.

In February next year the India Trade Expo, being organized by the PHD Chamber, would be held in Islamabad in Pakistan. India and Pakistan are the two largest economies in the South Asian region that provide tremendous potential for bilateral trade.