SIAL Exhibition Underway in Toronto Showcasing Pakistani Products

A three-day international exhibition is currently being held in Toronto, Canada, under the SIAL banner, a worldwide platform designed to promote trade in food and agricultural commodities.

Pakistan is actively participating in the event, presenting a variety of domestically manufactured goods, including rice, spices, and fruit juices, at a special pavilion that includes 10 booths.

The Pakistani exhibit is situated within a prominent hall in Toronto, facilitated by the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan, the Consulate General of Pakistan in Toronto, along with other organizations.

The primary goal is to stimulate exports and reinforce commercial relations with nations like Canada.

Representatives from various private sector companies are staffing their respective stalls to promote their offerings. However, some visitors have noted the lack of a dedicated display for Himalayan salt sourced from Pakistan’s Khewra mines in both the US and Canada, even though this salt has become a profitable item in those markets.

For many years, India has been procuring this salt at reduced rates, processing it into powdered form, and marketing it as “Himalayan salt.” Despite the absence of any Himalayan salt mines within its own borders, India markets the commodity at elevated prices on the international market, generating considerable revenue.

The salt is particularly appealing to Jewish consumers in North America because of its religious and cultural importance.

Pakistan’s Consul General in Toronto, Khalil Bajwa, told the media that the exhibition serves as a chance to highlight Pakistani goods and boost the current annual trade volume with Canada, which is approximately $400 million.

According to Bajwa, the Ministry of Commerce, the Pakistan High Commission in Ottawa, and the Toronto Consulate collaborated with Pakistani businesses to create the pavilion. However, a number of booths were unstaffed due to visa complications that prevented certain exhibitors from entering Canada.

Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Canada, Muhammad Saleem, also journeyed from Ottawa to tour the pavilion and take part in meetings. He engaged in discussions with representatives from Global Affairs Canada concerning the increasing tensions between Pakistan and India.