Central and South America: exporters urged to focus on non-traditional markets

President, Saint Harnic International USA, and a prominent importer of United States Manny Harnic, visited Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) and held meeting with Office-bearers, executive committee and exporters of Faisalabad. TDAP Officials were also present on the occasion.
President, FCCI Sheikh Abdul Qayyum, said that the major exports of Pakistan are textile-oriented products, which are approximately 54 percent of the total export. The Faisalabad alone has been contributing significantly in the total national exports of textiles since many years.
Pakistan is one of the leading cotton growing countries in the world and its cotton textile products stand un-matched in the international market due to the fine quality of yarn and fabrics, he said. He said that cotton price of Pakistan, which was 0.40 Euro cent per kg in 1999, whereby at present cotton price per kg is 1.35 Euro in the international market.
hile briefing about the geographical importance, he said Pakistan is a country of 160 million people - Its biggest strength is its people as the human resources are real assets of Pakistan. It is a country of unique location on the crossroads of South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. It is a country, which is on the move to economic stabilisation.
President FCCI further said that since 9/11, Pakistan has become a major ally with USA in the war against terrorism. It is striving hard to eradicate terrorism. According to reliable sources Pakistan had suffered about 35 billion dollars loss during the last 4 years. In the wake of this situation, as being the strategic partner of US, the textile products of Pakistan should be given free market access to the US and the trade barrier should be lifted with immediate effect.
While responding to the President FCCI address, Manny Harnic said that he is visiting Pakistan frequently for 53 years, he stressed the Faisalabad exporters to focus on the non-traditional markets other than USA and UK, he said that in the non-traditional markets in Central and South America. There is a lot of potential for exporters, in this regard, he gave example of Panama, which is a duty free market, whereby Chile, Peru, Colombia and Ecuador offer lots of incentives for exporters.
So that, Faisalabad exporters should get benefit of it, he added. He referred China and India, which are already getting benefit of these markets. He regretfully mentioned that even Pakistan is having no High Commission Office in these important countries of the World. Even TDAP is not taking concrete measures to explore these markets. Meeting ended with the vote of thanks by Vice President, FCCI Shabbir Hussain Chawla. A FCCI shield is being presented by SVP, FCCI, Muhammad Ayub Mughal to the chief guest.