The stone and marble sector offers tremendous opportunities to Pakistani businessmen as China is a huge market keeping in view its spectacular infrastructure development, said Ambassador Masood Khalid.

The Ambassador expressed these view while observing the Increased participation of Pakistani traders in a recently held international stone fair.

A total of 10 Pakistanis entrepreneurs participated in the 13th Xiamen International Stone Fair held from March 6-9. Last year, five companies from Pakistan took part in the event. This year, one company participated on its own. The products displayed were granite and onyx, blocks & slabs, marble handicrafts and gemstones.

"Participation of our companies in such fairs would contribute in strengthening economic relations between Pakistan and China and boost bilateral trade among the two countries” Ambassador Khalid noted. Ambassador Masood Khalid said that Pakistan is blessed with one of the largest marble and granite reserves.

Pakistan’s participation presented an opportunity to our exhibitors to display their products to the rest of the world he said adding that China, because of its close proximity to Pakistan, and the excellent relations between the two countries is an ideal market in this regard. The booths for the fair were booked by the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) with the support of the Embassy of Pakistan, Beijing.

The Xiamen Stone Fair is the world’s largest stone exhibition which attracts a number of international and local companies. The Fair has over the years grown in stature and is now considered as a key international trade event.

It offers an opportunity for the stone industry to showcase their products and build new partnerships. This year around 2,000 of the world’s leading suppliers and manufacturers participated in the event.

Xiamen is the hub of stone business in China. According to the available data, Xiamen has become the world’s largest stone trading center with transaction volume representing over 60% in China and 15% around the world. China is one the major importers of Pakistani marble. Similarly, China also imports granite, basalt and sandstone from Pakistan. The Pakistan companies attracted a lot of attention at the event. The exhibitors were of the opinion that participation in such fairs would boost their business and help establish new contacts which would also be beneficial to the economy of Pakistan. They expressed hope that companies from Pakistan can attend such events in future also with the help of the government of Pakistan. Ms. Roubina Taufiq Shah represented Trade Development Authority of Pakistan at the event and visited the stalls to encourage the exhibitors and ascertain the response of the local and international companies for their products.