Anti-dumping duty: Germany to take into account Pakistan's concerns before decision

Member of the German legislative assembly, Bundestag, Klaus Werner Jonas has said that Germany has not taken a final decision on anti-dumping duty and Pakistan's genuine concerns would be taken into consideration before making a final decision.
Inaugurating German Textile Technology Catalogue Show, 2004, here on Thursday, he said that Germany has changed its policy towards Pakistan's textile sector and enhanced business relation between the two countries are being encouraged.
He said that Germany and Pakistan have long standing business relations. Germany is the 7th largest supplier of goods to Pakistan, which was also fourth largest importer of Pakistani goods.
"When you purchase state-of-art machinery and equipment from Germany, you contribute in strengthening our economy and securing jobs for our workforce," he said and added that similarly when we buy your end products, it results in improving your exports and providing jobs to your people.
He said that textile sectors of both countries are good example of bilateral relations and constitutes a good basis upon which we could build a deeper and broader relationship in the future.
Jonas said that Pakistan's textile sector has experienced a high growth rate and is expanding its market share around the world.
"Pakistan's Textile Vision 2005, clearly indicates the commitment of Pakistan's textile sector to move swiftly towards value-added production and exports," he remarked.
He also appreciated economic measures taken by the present government and said that macro-economic reforms in Pakistan have resulted in availability of much needed foreign exchange reserves which would ensure low-cost financing for upgrading the textile industry and making your products further competitive in the world market.
He further said that Pakistan's textile industry was also facing serious challenges particularly in the backdrop of globalisation and trade liberalisation.
He said that future of Pakistan's textile industry rests upon high tech, innovation and speed.
"I am confident that Pakistan needs to focus on critical areas such as those of establishing highly quipped research and testing laboratories and making professionals services available for quality assurance, product development, process optimisation and development and execution of ecological company concepts," he said.
Jonas said, he had also been trying to strengthen Pakistani textile sector. In this connection German Textile Research Institute has agreed to explore the potential of developing and strengthening textile sector in Pakistan.
Deputy chief of German mission Christoph Sander said that Pakistan' exports have increased while imports from Germany are decreasing over the last few years.
He mentioned visits of President Musharraf and Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz to Germany and said that it would help further strengthen bilateral trade relations between the two countries.
He said that Germany was also playing its role for the restoration of peace in war-torn Afghanistan.
He voiced satisfaction over the peace process initiated between India and Pakistan and said that European Union fully supports this process which would help in attracting much needed foreign investment to this region.
Dr Khurram Tariq, central chairman, Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers Association (PHMA), in his address urged upon Germany to arrange technological awareness activities in Faisalabad.
He said that it would help in creating awareness and better use of latest technology available in Germany.
He said that a moderate and secure strategy should also be evolved for better access for those who have financial restraints in acquiring expensive technology.
He also expressed concern over anti-dumping duty being imposed by the European Union on bed linen and feared that danger of increased use of non-tariff barriers would further increase with the entry of ten new members into the EU.
He urged Germany to play its role as a major member of the EU to avert this situation.
He also proposed that Pakistan should be allowed to enter in a Free Trade Agreement with the EU and GSP concessions should be continued for another five years.
He said that the world trend is towards purchasing cheaper machines of China without considering its after effects, hence, bilateral arrangements for the sale of German machinery and buy-back of textile products should be arranged.
He also proposed a Pak-German trade portal and said that Germany should invest in environment cleaning projects on build operate and transfer basis.
He also proposed a joint textile technology institute for providing research and development and human resource development.
Talla Saeed, country manager, Union Bank Limited and Anjum Ahmed, general-manager, Donor Co-ordination & International Linkages, Smeda also addressed the show.
Earlier, Dr Khurram Tariq presented shields and souvenirs to Klaus Werner Jonas and Christoph Sander. Later, Klaus inaugurated the catalogue show and visited stalls set up by various German firms.