The Sindh Board of Investment (SBI) is poised to kick off the third edition of the Livestock, Dairy, Fisheries and Agriculture (LDFA) exhibition from February 23 (today). Speaking at a pre-launch ceremony, Chairman SBI Zubair Motiwala said that Sindh was fast emerging as the top choice for foreign and local investors.
He said the two-day-long LDFA 2013 exhibition would help explore new avenues for investment in livestock, dairy, fisheries, agriculture and poultry sectors. Terming the response of both public and exhibitors phenomenal, Motiwala said that during the previous two exhibitions, business deals worth Rs 400 million had been signed. The number of stalls had been increased to 500 against 200 stalls set up during LDFA 2012, he said, adding that SBI expected to finalise business deals worth Rs 800 million during LDFA 2013.
Motiwala said the event would help bridge the gap between government and investors by providing a platform for knowledge-sharing, adding that it would help enhance the quantum of production of exportable products. The SBI chief said that a horse and cattle show, a bird show, an ornamental fish exhibition, a Sindhi Culture Show, a pet show and a flower show would be held on the sidelines of the main event.
Sindh’s Agriculture Secretary Agha Jan Akhtar said the provincial government was trying to promote exports of value-added products. Provincial Secretary for Livestock and Fisheries Syed Abid Ali Shah said that the country earned $350 million via exports in the fisheries sector, adding that the quantum was likely to double in a couple of years. He said that the government was trying to encourage farmers to adopt modern techniques and for this purpose, a master plan had been evolved with the assistance of the Chinese government.
