Dr Marco Pintus, Italian trade commissioner in Pakistan, said that Italy exported textile, leather, leather chemicals, shoe accessories and other items worth €460 million to Pakistan in 2005 while exports from Islamabad to Milan stood at around €440 million.

According to Dr Pintus, Pakistan stands out as one of the main markets for Italian textile machinery and business volume to Pakistan was growing at the rate of 20%.

About 50 Italian textile machinery manufactures will exhibit or be represented at the upcoming IGATEX Pakistan 2006.