20000313

Prgmea refuses

co-operation

with EPB fair

committee

RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: The Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (Prgmea) has refused to cooperate with a committee of the Export Promotion Bureau, which is entrusted with the task of finalising a programme of participation in fairs and exhibition in the year 2000-2001.

The Chairman of the Prgmea's Sub Committee on Fairs and Exhibitions Naim Ahmed in a letter to the Director Exhibitions, EPB, said that members of his association were not happy with the EPB's arbitrary selection of participants in the international fairs specially for the Magic Show - 2000 in Las Vegas.

He said that despite repeated assurances by the EPB that participants in international fairs would be selected in consultation with the associations concerned it was never done and the EPB officers used their discretion in selecting participants.

The Prgmea's committee has therefore decided not to submit their proposals as called for by the EPB for the EPC meeting as long as the issue is not amicably settled, Naim Ahmed added.

The Prgmea had earlier received a letter from the EPB, saying that in order to finalise the fairs and exhibition programme of the EPB and to allocate fairs to the trade bodies for their members' participation for 2000-2001, a meeting of the EPC will be held soon.

Serious differences emerged between the participants of the Magic Show at Las Vegas held recently and both accused each other of mismanagement and poor show of display at the show.

The EPB charges participation fee of Rs 65,000 per person for fairs in USA and Rs 30,000 for fairs in the Far East. It provides free space to the participants in international fairs and arranges free transportation of display of goods to the venue of the fairs.