Manoranjan Kalia inaugurates PITEX 2010

AMRITSAR : Acknowledging that the trade in the region has grown manifold, Manoranjan Kalia, Minister for Industry & Commerce, Punjab said that such expos generate healthy competition while inaugurating the PHD-Punjab International Trade Expo PITEX 2010, being organized by PHD Chamber at Ranjit Avenue, Amritsar.
The success of PITEX can be gauged from the fact that this year eight countries are participating in this expo. It shows that that industry and trade in the area are on a growth trajectory. We hope to see more countries participating in coming years, he said.
Kalia told that an industrial hub on 1300 acres area was coming up at Rajpura and another one at Kapurthala in an area of 220 acres.
Earlier, speaking on the occasion, Navjot Singh Sidhu, MP, Amritsar said, “If Punjab needs to develop leaps and bounds, Punjab has to develop its manufacturing and services sector.” He said that Punjab International Trade Expo should be made a regular annual feature.
Rajiv Bali, Chairman, Punjab Committee, PHD Chamber said that Jalandhar and Ludhiana already were industrial hubs. Being a border area, trade and industry needs to be boosted here in Amritsar.
He reiterated that Punjab government’s help in this initiative of PHD Chamber is very encouraging.
He shared that this time delegations from five Chambers of commerce and industry including the Lahore Chamber, Rawalpindi Chamber, Sheikhupura Chamber, Islamabad Chamber and the Attock Chamber are participating in the Trade Expo.
Sharing that the event, over the years had grown in size, Ashok Kajaria, President, PHD Chamber, informed that this year the response in terms of booking the space has been more than 70% from last year.
With Punjab as the host State, this is Chamber’s fifth endeavour dedicated to the cause of boosting bilateral trade with the participating countries. It would also help to explore investment opportunities. Shawl Club, Textiles Manufacturers Association, National Small Industries Corporation, Punjab Technical University, Knitwear Club, Union Ministry of Food Processing and Union Ministry of Textiles are the other supporting partners, he informed. Rajiv Bali, Chairman Punjab Committee, PHD Chamber, R S Sachdeva, Co- Chairman Punjab Committee, PHD Chamber, Susmita Shekhar, DSG, PHD Chamber, Er. Shwait Malik, Mayor, Amritsar, K S Pannu, DC, Amritsar, and other senior government officials were also present on the occasion.
R S Sachdeva, Co-Chairman, Punjab Committee, PHD Chamber while thanking the Industry & Commerce Minister, said, that he hoped that people of Amritsar and surrounding areas shall visit the fair in huge number adding that “it’s the overwhelming response from the public that brings us here year after year”.
Dalip Sharma, Regional Director, PHD Chamber said that with the help of Amritsar administration, foolproof security arrangements have been made. For the convenience of public, facilities like ATM machines, medical facilities and ambulance, fire safety systems, and public conveniences have been provided. PITEX has become synonymous with 5 day long extravaganza of fun, food, embedded with business, seminars, and cultural events.