Exploring business opportunities in different sectors here, a delegation of Pakistani businessmen and exporters has recently arrived on a visit of Qatar.
Comprising businessmen and exporters representing different industry sectors, the delegation of Gujranawala Chamber of Commerce & Industry led by Samee Ullah Naeem will hold meetings with business leaders from Qatar and various other institutions with the aim to find a share for themselves in the local market.
“Gujranwala is the 4th biggest city of Pakistan. Our 4,000 members contribute to the national economy about 80 billion rupees annually in the form of indirect taxes. In exports, we have a 1.5 billion rupees share which is about 10-12 percent of the total exports of Pakistan,” Naeem told journalists here at the sidelines of a dinner reception hosted for the visiting delegation by Ambassador of Pakistan to Qatar Shahzad Ahmad at his residence.
Detailing the export potential in Gujranwala, Naeem said the biggest export product that originates from the city is Basmati rice, which is the best quality in the world. The city also boasts quality products in the fields of ceramics, cutlery, stitched garment, metal and others.
There is a huge cottage industry and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Gujranwala. There are about 500,000 families associated with these businesses.
“The main aim of exploring this market is to provide out industry an outlet, which it had not been able to receive in the past. There is great potential in the Gujranwala industry and we are confident that with increasing B2B interactions here, we will be able to attract business opportunities here,” said Naeem.
The delegation will move to Kuwait from Qatar. He thanked the Pakistan embassy and the ambassador of Pakistan for facilitating the delegation in their visit of Qatar.
He said the delegation, during their visit, will also explore opportunities for businesses in Qatar’s booming construction industry. There are members in the delegation that are associated with the construction industry.
The delegation will also focus on the sanitary ware market. “Our sanitary ware is considered even better than the Chinese products in the local market and the prices are comparative. In Gujranwala, we have soil that is highly suitable for sanitary ware,” said the delegation President.
He said the industry in Gujranwala is capable of catering to the Qatari hotel industry’s demands for cutlery and cookware. “As FIFA 2022 World Cup is coming, there will be a huge demand for football kits, fire equipment and other things. We have in our delegation businessmen who deal with stitched garments and other [related materials],” said Naeem.
However, he added that the major focus of the meetings in Qatar will be on two sectors: food and construction industries. They would rely on B2B interactions with the businesses here and then would go back and follow them up with regular reminders and feedbacks, he said.
Naeem said the Qatari businessmen are looking for suitable products with competitive prices, which the industries in Gujranwala can provide.
“I don’t think there is any real barrier in our way to attract businesses. It is only that we need to build linkages and that is what we aim to do through this trip,” said the delegation president.
Naeem said they have meetings lined up with representatives from Qatar’s food and construction industry at the embassy of Pakistan. The delegation would also go out in the market and survey the business potential.
The delegation will also hold meetings with Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry besides business entities like Hassad Foods and Bin Laden Construction Group.
The delegation President and members presented the ambassador of Pakistan with a souvenir they had brought with them from Gujranwala.
Samee Ullah Naeem, fifth from right, presenting a souvenir to Ambassador of Pakistan Shahzad Ahmad. Photos by Umer Nangiana
