TDAP to streamline export of services

The Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) for the first time is going to streamline the 'export of services', the long neglected untraditional exportable item. TDAP under its services export program, during the last one year has created a demand of 30,000 English language teachers, 0.1 million health workers/nurses and a large number of construction engineers and consultants from Pakistan across the world, TDAP Chief Executive Mohibullah Shah said.
Talking to Business Recorder, he said that the Authority, for the first time has formed a separate division for the services sector last year, which aims to create demand of different services abroad through using the country's diplomatic missions, internet services and other technologies.
A large number of English language teachers were sent to Middle East, especially to Saudi Arabia, while most of the health workers/nurses had taken jobs in developed countries, especially United States of America, he said. He said that though the demand of thousands of guaranteed jobs for the country's people had been created across the country under the Authority's new program, lots of measures were yet to be taken to get some share in the world's over $3 trillion trade of services.
The CE said while almost 10,000 nurses were getting training in the country every year more nursing schools were needed to increase the number as it has a high demand outside the country. The government, he said, under the trade policy was also giving incentives for training and skill development of these personnel.
Beside teachers, nurses, and information technology technicians, according to sources, consulting engineers of Pakistan have the potential to get major projects in the regions like Middle-East, Central and South Asia, Far-East and Africa. Internationally, he said, Pakistani engineers are regarded as intelligent, innovative and having good judgement and they were readily accepted by most of the clients, consulting and contracting organisations.
The non-traditional exportable items, if exported in these regions with proper planning is said to have enough potential to generate handsome foreign exchange for the country. He said if the export of these services was supported by the government more in shape of policy reforms, support in guarantees and diplomatic/commercial support, the consultants and other work forces of Pakistan were capable to get major projects outside the country while providing opportunity to Pakistani contractors, suppliers and manufacturers in reaching these countries with an added advantage of goodwill created by Pakistani consultants.
But, in the absence of government's support Pakistani consulting engineers for grabbing many major works were facing many issues including lack of support from respective Pakistan Embassies or consulates, lack of policy for retaining foreign remittance in foreign exchange for any marketing or administrative expenses out-side Pakistan, non-availability of local banking support for issuing bid-bonds or performance bonds in foreign currency with collaterals in Pakistan and the non-availability of insurance companies who could issue Bonds in Foreign Currency, the sources added.