By Ayesha Saba ISLAMABAD, Feb. 02 (INP-WealthPK): Trade fairs and exhibitions make a significant contribution to the growth of many business sectors around the world. The more global a business sector, the more important the role of trade shows in introducing vendors to buyers and ensuring that the industry players stay abreast of all the developments in the industry. Exhibitions and trade fairs, one of the most popular means of promotion, are well-known as key economic drivers for any economy, contributing to trade and investment, innovation, job creation, tourism and gaining recognition. At exhibitions and trade fairs, the participants can meet customers and industry partners, examine opportunities and market trends, study the activities of their competitors and showcase their latest services and products to one and all. The major exhibitions that work with global ‘meetings places’ provide a highly cost-efficient environment in which senior managements can interact to discuss partnerships and joint ventures, to maintain and deepen business relationships and to identify new business opportunities. These events are important for economic prosperity because they help to boost the visitor economy and facilitate small business growth by connecting buyers and sellers, promote knowledge sharing which leads to innovation and business collaboration (both locally and globally), and provide a platform for international trade and investment. Some trade fairs are open to the general public, whereas others are open only to the company representatives and media personnel.  Some of them are hybrid and allow some days for public viewing and some for corporate members. If an industry wants to attract investment from local, regional or national government or from private investors, it has to compete with other industries. At times of challenging economic conditions, the economic impact on an industry becomes abundantly clear when the major players are locked in a tough competition to hold the dwindling financial resources in check and to shore them up. For the past few years, exhibitions portrayed a soft image of Pakistan globally. The benefits of Pakistan's geographic location are now being fully realized through the CPEC (China-Pakistan Economic Corridor) projects, which are being referred to as game changers for the regional and global economies. During the recent three-day Pakistan Industrial Expo 2021, the Chinese and Pakistani firms signed Intended Cooperation Agreements (ICA) worth US$34 million in a variety of areas, including construction, engineering, manufacturing, and technology transfer. More than 100 Chinese enterprises took part in the event which was held both in physical and online forms. As per details, at least nine Chinese companies are considering launching long-term development projects in Pakistan as a result of interaction between both sides. Despite the Covid-19 issue, both countries have maintained a strong economic and investment relationship, and the moment has come to combine the forces for a much-needed economic and investment rebound. Apart from China, Saudi Arabia is also interested in making investment in Pakistan given the strong economic ties between the two countries. In addition, the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) has organized one of the largest IT and Tech Expos to highlight the IT sector’s potential for trade and exports in September 2021. A large number of international and local IT companies displayed their software and hardware products at the expo. Trade fair is a massive stage for widespread exposure and interaction. China, India and Gulf states are at the top of conducting trade shows and expos and presenting themselves brilliantly compared with Pakistan where very limited trade fairs and exhibitions are held due to which it is far behind in term of exports. Trade fairs and exhibitions should be used to increase Pakistan's exports, and the government should provide all possible assistance to the private sector, particularly exporters, to participate in domestic and international exhibitions. Holding such fairs on a regular basis will boost the economy's other sectors.