Pakistani trade exchange is witnessing some sort of momentum as more than 30 businessman headed to the commercial city of Karachi to explore Pakistani products.

Finding variable industrial and commercial products with high quality and good prices, most of the delegation signed deals worth millions of dollars and others signed contracts of becoming agents for Pakistani companies in Yemen.Visiting Pakistan was a good chance to the businessmen came through invitation from Pakistani embassy to participate in Expo Pakistan held in the biggest Islamic coastal city of Karachi last February 26-28. Being delighted seeing the event, the business delegation expressed strong will to return to Pakistani goods to import to Yemen.

Products with high quality, good prices

Almost all the businessmen participated delegation expressed their admiration of the quality of the products of the companies participated in the expo. Some others went also to the industrial Pakistani city of Silkot for more business."Pakistani goods are of very good quality and excellent prices comparing to of other neighboring countries exporting their goods to Yemen," says Mohammad Mousa, owner of Mousa Company for General Trade.

Mohammad al-Fakhri of Al-Fakhri Company for Trade says the expo included all Pakistani products and many companies have exhibited their products, whether industrial or commercial. "We have come to investigate importing rice and this visit is a chance to visit Pakistani factories producing rice."

Al-Fakhri, who also owns another company providing oil services, says he has received another invitation to attend future expo on this field which is scheduled on next Ma 18-20, saying he will seek opportunities in oil services field.Abdo Hassan Mohammad Director of Home of Medicine and Food Company says he found medical appliances with good prices and good quality, saying: "most of big international companies have factories in Pakistan.""We met with participating delegations in the expo and expressed our desire to sign contracts to buy medicines and medical equipments," he says, adding we also import several types of Pakistani rice and we are going to import dates, biscuits and juices.Abdul Rahman Ibrahim, Commercial Manager of Al-Wadi Trade and Investment Co.LTD says he is going to import food stuff from Pakistan. He signed a contract with Pakistani companies worth $ 3 million.Fadhl Al-Abbassi, Director of Al-Abbassi Group of Companies says he signed a contract worth USD 50,000 for buying housewares and spices as a first step. He says he found Pakistani goods are of high quality and good prices to import to Yemen."A container of kitchenware is being shipped to Yemen," he said praising houseware industry in Pakistan.

Demands for facilitating trade between the two countries

Yemeni businessmen called concern bodies in Yemen and Pakistan to facilitate trade between the two countries which help their business interests."We call for enhancing trade relations between Yemen and Pakistan," said Chairman of Albaida'a Industrial and Commerce Chamber Mohammad Musa, referring to some difficulties Yemeni businessmen face to import from Pakistan.Heading the Yemeni businessmen delegation who participated in the fifth Expo Pakistan, Mousa said the lack of direct flights to and from Pakistan, strengthened security measures and absences of formal coordination between concerned bodies are the main obstacles facing Yemeni businessmen's imports.

Pakistani formal efforts to facilitate exporting to Yemen

 Pakistani Deputy Ambassador in Yemen Ahmad Sirohey has exerted great efforts to bring Yemeni businessmen to Pakistan.While he facilitated measures required for bringing Yemeni businessmen delegation in Yemen, he directed his country's officials to coordinate with their Yemeni counterparts to facilitate movements of travelers.

But he referred to news coverage on al-Qaeda in Yemen and Pakistan and the effect of media on imposing security measures which some times put burdens on traveling between countries.

He stated that Yemeni businessmen have signed contracts worth more than USD 20 million. While others have also signed contracts to be agents to Pakistani companies in Yemen, some are on their way to make transactions.

Al-Qaeda; a concern to Pakistan and Yemen

Al Qaeda and terrorist attacks remain the main reasons officials talked about as challenges to development. In the conclusion ceremony of the expo, Pakistani State Minister for Commerce Amin Fahim said media has defamed Pakistan in most world countries because of covering terrorism issues.Terrorism has badly affected Pakistani exports to the world and investment in the country, he said. But he stated that the expo was successful despite security problems. He argued improving the industry and end difficulties facing it."Manufacturing in the country is still fragment comparing to China and India… cotton has to be taken care of as important pillar of exports and materials," said Fahim. Yemeni delegation awarded the medal as the best

 In a ceremony held for awarding coordinators of the expo, companies and delegation participated in the event, Yemeni delegation has been awarded the medal of the best delegation in terms of number and signing business contracts.

Minister of Finance Shawkat Tarin along with Minster of Commerce Amin Fahim and the Executive Chairman of Trade Development Authority of Pakistan Syed Muhiballah Shah handed over the Medal to Ahmad Sirohey, Head of the Pakistani Mission in Yemen.

 Pakistani goods to be exhibited in Yemen

Pakistani Deputy Ambassador in Yemen Ahmad Sirohey stated that the near future will witness more trade cooperation between Yemen and Pakistan, saying that Pakistani companies will come to Yemen and exhibit their products in Sana'a.

Almost every two months, a show will be held to Pakistani products in Yemen, said Sirohey.

He further said that it was difficult to held exhibitions to Pakistani products in Sana'a in the past because of the high cost of renting a hall.But now, he said, they are approaching to reach a deal with Expo Sana'a Hall to host Pakistani companies to show their products.