PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI), Chandigarh, with the assistance of the Punjab Government, is all set to organise the Punjab International Trade Expo-2018 at Amritsar from December 6 to 10.

Announcing this, the state Additional Chief Secretary (Industries and Commerce) Vini Mahajan said that while the Trade Expo would go a long way in strengthening the economic and cultural ties between Punjab as well as the other states or countries, it would also prove to be a milestone in raising awareness regarding brands, forging stable partnerships besides providing push to the trade and business relations. “The Expo would be attended by the governments of Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, North Eastern states and Himachal Pradesh. Not only this, but the Union Ministries of Textile, Ayush, Khadi and Village and Industries Commission would also be represented in the Expo. There is also the likelihood of participation by Thailand, Turkey, Egypt, Afghanistan, South Africa and other global partners,” said Mahajan.

Mahajan emphasized the need to establish Amritsar as the central place for exports and disclosed that Punjab Tourism would be under prime focus in the Expo with adequate attention also being given to medical tourism. “This Expo would follow a grand success of the previous 12th edition and has the distinction of being the largest expo in the North India. This is a one stop platform for projecting the achievements as well as the capabilities of the Brand Punjab,” she said.

Mahajan said that during the Expo, Punjab Government’s varied departments such as Markfed, PAIC, PIDB, Punjab Tourism, Punjab State Cooperative Milkfed Limited, PEDA, Punjab Khadi and Village Industries Board, GMADA Mohali, Amritsar Development Authority, PSIEC, Punjab Infotech, Punjab Cooperative Bank, PUNSUP, PSWG and Punjab Mandi Board would also play a major role, and the officers concerned have been instructed to complete all the arrangements on time. “The popularity of this Expo can well be gauged from the fact that during previous edition, over 300 exhibitors from India and abroad took part. The participation of general public crossed two lakh. From the foreign countries, Afghanistan, Turkey, Sri Lanka, Thailand, South Africa, Iraq and Egypt whereas from India, the states of Jammu and Kashmir, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Jharkhand and the North Eastern states participated, she said.