The two-day Expo-24, second edition, was organized jointly by the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan and Thardeep Rural Development Programme at Dolmen Banquet, Hyderabad, today.
Entrepreneurs, traders, and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) from Hyderabad city and rural areas have set up stalls showcasing a variety of products, including horticulture, handicrafts, bangles, pottery, perfumes, food, and traditional and cultural outfits. Many families have been thronging the expo since early morning; the diversity of traditional and cultural products showcased demonstrates a huge potential for trade and livelihood. TDAP has set up an online portal to connect local traders with the market and is diversifying the range of products that can be mainstreamed and integrated.
TRDP is working by building partnerships with local communities to reduce poverty and increase sustainable livelihood opportunities. The approach employed is to support poor households particularly women in getting access to capital through provision of grant, skill transfer through technical training, and connectivity with market through collaboration with relevant institutions.TRDP is contributing by it’s extensive outreach at grassroots level, the support and collaboration with TDAP and other institutions are opening new opportunities and reach for artisans, farmers, SMEs and small business groups to introduce and connect their products with mainstream market.
Visitors showed profound interest in TRDP’s stalls showcasing innovative techniques in horticulture, such as the ‘Banana Tissue Culture Lab,’ established to prepare disease-resistant, export-quality varieties of bananas. The stalls also demonstrated preparing fibre from banana waste, which supports the textile industry and produces liquid fertilizer and organic matter, thereby reducing environmental pollution. A hot water treatment plant for mangoes was also demonstrated, which resulted in increasing the demand for export-quality mangoes.
The expo also featured Thari embroidery, handicrafts, indigenous organic seeds and food items, perfumes, and decorative items made from local materials.
In conclusion, Mr Adeel, President of the Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce, distributed certificates among the exhibitors.
