A delegation of the Pakistan Furniture Council (PFC) Friday left for Turkey on 4-day visit to explore new investment avenues by sharing their vision, expertise for the formulation of future policies, economic studies and project-specific reports in addition to promotional efforts.

PFC Chief Mian Kashif Ashfaq said the delegation will have an in-depth discussion with their counterparts in Turkey,” a press statement said.

The PFC is focusing on marketing activities in key foreign markets mainly United States, Japan, European Union, and the Gulf region.

He said Turkey can provide huge opportunities to Pakistani exporters to market their products including handmade furniture in European markets in collaboration with Turkish companies.

Regarding furniture, he said Turkish firms are manufacturing costly and high quality machine-made furniture for the European consumers.

He said in Pakistan most of the furniture is hand-made but still it is cheap and could be marketed in EU countries at a high price. In this connection, Turkish firms can also play a major role in facilitating Pakistani manufacturers to have direct access to the potential customers.

He said Pakistan-Turkey relationship is unparalleled in inter-state relations.

He said the special ties have flourished due to successive generations of leaders in the two countries.

The PFC chief executive added that participation in international shows should be deemed imperative for furniture exports.

He accentuated that the establishment of joint ventures with Turkey for the provision of required machinery can encourage the quality of Pakistan’s furniture products and brings them at par with international standard.

“Therefore, there is a dire need to transform our furniture business from cottage or small scale to highly innovative industry, for which training of skilled labour and high-end supplies are required,” added Ashfaq.

He also said, “The PFC will invite Turkish furniture producers to participate in forthcoming 3-day 10th mega “Interior Pakistan” furniture exhibitions in Pakistan starting from May.