Commercial counsellors not effective: MCCI

Pakistan trade offices abroad may be given targets to increase exports by motivating importers in their assigned countries as well as focussing on enhancing exports of non-traditional items from Pakistan.
This has been demanded by the Multan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) President, Malik Asrar Ahmad Awan, in proposals prepared by its organisation for the 'Trade Policy 2004-05'.
About the role of commercial counsellors of Pakistan, he claimed in the proposals that Pakistan commercial counsellors abroad were not effective as compared to other countries, particularly India.
They should become more effective with regard to dissemination of information on continuous basis.
Latest demand trends for different products in country of their posting should be reached to businessmen at the earliest, as businessmen were not in a position to visit to collect such commercial information, he added.
He further demanded infrastructure facilities at low cost to existing industries exporting 80 percent of their production and 25 percent subsidy on airfare for the promotion of export of fresh fruits ie mango, kinnow etc.
He said that steps should be taken to preserve and export fruits, vegetables and horticulture.
"More than 50 percent of our growth in perishable commodities goes waste,' he pointed out, adding this surplus production requires special measures for protection and export, for which Pakistan has the massive market.
Malik Asrar Ahmad Awan also demanded that no tax should be charged in electricity bills by Wapda to those exporting units who export more than 80 percent of total production.
He also suggested that the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) should be re-organised and persons from private sector having experience of export be posted specially in embassies.
Persons having MBA degree in marketing may be posted as commercial counsellors, he proposed. Regional and zonal offices of EPB be made under local experienced exporters and given target of export, which should be achieved.
EPB should also monitor the decline in export of any commodities and timely remedies taken, he further suggested.
The MCCI chief termed the No Duty No Drawback Scheme as ideal for exporters but suggested that its procedure should be simplified so that one government department handles all aspects of this scheme.
He also suggested that separate record-keeping at plant be eliminated as companies are required to submit bank guarantees at the time of clearance of raw materials.