Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar Khan has said that the Trade Policy 2004-05 would have a long-term vision with a number of promising incentives for the exporters.
He said various studies were underway to make the forthcoming Trade Policy result-oriented and exporter-friendly to enable the businessmen to face the challenges of the WTO regime.
Talking to Business Recorder Humayun said that the purpose of working out a long-term vision for exporters was to enable them enter into the new world markets with more confidence and boldness.
He refrained himself from entering into dwelling on nature of the incentives, saying since various studies were underway to make it a long-term vision in real terms, it would not be suitable to go into further details.
However, he expressed determination for removing obstacles and irritants impeding the government's efforts for utilising all available resources and get increased exports.
The minister said that the stakeholders were being consulted on the new Trade Policy to give due importance to their proposals and suggestions.
Humayun was hopeful to exceed the exports target of $12.1 billion for 2003-04.
He referred to July-March exporters output and said even if the same trend continues for the remaining three months of the current year, exports would exceed the target.
Asked if the government intends to push upward exports target for the current fiscal year, his reply was a big yes.
He said, "Keeping in view the result of the first nine months of the current fiscal year, the government is determined to increase exports target for 2004-05."
He particularly referred to Afghanistan and termed it a promising market for Pakistan.
He was confident that bilateral trade between Kabul and Islamabad could easily cross $1 billion mark.
In his views, Pakistan's special arrangements such as South Asian Free Trade Arrangements (Safta) and possible signing of free trade agreement (FTA) and regional as well as bilateral agreements with a number of countries would help Pakistan in achieving substantial increase in exports.
July-March exports stood at $8.902 billion, which showed 13.25 percent increase over the corresponding period of the last fiscal year.
Pakistan needs $3.2 billion during the last quarter to meet the target, which, to the minister, was not a difficult job.
On the issue of the imposition of anti-dumping duty by the European Union on import of bed-linen from Pakistan, the minister said, the government is on its toes to help the exporters in getting relief in this very case.
He said that basically anti-dumping duty is a case between Pakistani exporters and some of the EU buyers, but the government moved in to Pakistan's interest by facilitating the exporters.
He said he had twice met with the bed-linen exporters during the last two weeks and another meeting was on the cards to exactly know that either they want to accept the EU offer of review of the case or prefer going into dispute settlement committee of the WTO in Geneva.
The minister also wants to use his good office to convince the Trade Commissioner for European Commission, Pascal Lamy that the anti-dumping duty on Pakistan's bed-linen was uncalled for.
On the issue of trade with India, the minister reiterated his earlier stance that idea of free trade with India could go side by side with sustainable political development between Islamabad and New Delhi.
When he was reminded of sugar business between the private sector of the two countries, Huamayun said that export of sugar from Pakistan was not banned if it was feasible and viable for the private sector and same was the case with India and Afghanistan.
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