The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and the Navy are organising three-day Pakistan International Maritime Expo and Conference (PIMEC) from February 10 to 12, 2023, to highlight the unexplored potential of maritime economy, according to a statement received by WealthPK.

Commodore (Retd) M Imran Afzal, Assistant Chief of Naval Staff, said at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) that the event will be held under the umbrella of the National Institute of Maritime Affairs. He said the Pakistan Navy has adopted a maritime awareness campaign plan to sensitise relevant segments of society and policy markets. This maritime exhibition will provide an ideal platform for exhibitors to showcase various products, systems and services leading to beneficial business partnerships at local and international levels.

Imran Afzal said that the focus areas of the conference will be port, shipping operations, logistics, sea transportation, ship building, repair, breaking, fisheries, aquaculture, seabed, resource exploration, maritime training, coastal tourism, renewable energy and environmental protection, while the objectives are promotion of blue economy, maritime diplomacy and stabilisation of local maritime industry. He said international manufacturers will be encouraged to enter into Pakistan’s maritime market. The distributors, insurance companies, deck machinery, vessel equipment, aquaculture, bankers, financiers, boat and yacht building, cabling companies, transportation, seafood companies, clothing, rope manufacturers, storage, pharmaceutical, seafood, rescue and water sports related companies are welcome to participate.

The LCCI President Kashif Anwar hoped that the exhibition and conference will produce desired results. He said the LCCI will encourage and facilitate its members to participate in the exhibition and expo. Exports are very important, not only for the economy, but for the image building of the country, and the exhibition will play a crucial role in this regard.

Kashif Anwar said the LCCI is playing its due role for promotion of trade and industry in the country. He said the standing committees collect private sector feedback, make analysis, and after a thorough debate, it is forwarded to the concerned government departments for consideration at the time of preparation of the federal budget. The LCCI monitors the budget, anomalies are identified, and these coupled with revised proposals are again communicated to the relevant policy-making departments. The LCCI also keeps communication with commercial sections of the foreign missions and an exchange of information is ensured.

Kashif Anwar said the LCCI is aware of its corporate social responsibility. He said the LCCI has two self-sustaining projects -- Shalimar Hospital and LABARD -- on its credit. The Shalimar Hospital is providing modern health facilities to the public, while LABARD is not only acting as placement body for the differently-abled persons of the society, but also provides relevant training to the young minds in an effort to rehabilitate them. The LCCI has signed memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with various organisations, including hospitals, to facilitate its members.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk