Ministry of Commerce holds consultative session on trade opportunities

KARACHI: Ministry of Commerce held a consultative session on Trade Opportunities in USA, China and Indonesia and the second Round of Pak-China FTA here on Monday.

The Advisor to Prime Minister on Commerce, Textile, Industries and Production and Investment Abdul Razak Dawood, addressing to the session stated that safeguarding the interest of Pakistani businessmen is the top priority of the current regime.

He added, that no market access initiative will be pursued without the consultations of the businessmen. The Adviser to the PM said that all the chambers and associations have been invited time and again for consultations. The ministry has record of those consultations.  All the requests received so far have been accommodated.

Mentioning the second round of Pak-China FTA he stated that a lot of homework has been done for negotiations so that the commercial interest of Pakistani businesses is properly protected. He expressed his satisfaction over the level of preparation from the Pakistani side.

Regarding the opportunities arising out of the revocation of USA GSP status from India and Turkey and the implementation of the unilateral concessions granted by Indonesia, the Adviser stressed upon the participants to gear up and not let this window of opportunity slip past.

The Advisor stressed that Pakistan needs to evolve strategies for import substitution and called upon the participants to encourage the "make in Pakistan" sentiment. The representatives from Chambers Associations and academia appreciated the pro business agenda of the current regime. They reiterated their resolve to complement the export enhancement agenda of the current government.