'New trade policy should focus on promotion of non-traditional items'

President of Multan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) Shahid Naseem Khokhar has suggested that upcoming trade policy should focus on promotion of export of non-traditional items as country's concentration on a few items. In a press statement issued, here on Wednesday Khokhar said auto parts, handicrafts, precious stones, herbal medicines and fruits have a huge potential in South East Asia, Far East and African region, therefore a little attention towards these areas could do miracle.
He said government should take the business community leaders on board while finalising the trade policy for next period. He said the business community was ready to supplement all government efforts aimed at enhancing the export, but it was writing on the wall without due consultation of real stakeholders even the easiest targets become hard to achieve.
He said these that suggestions and proposals of the business community should be given due consideration if the government wanted to achieve the targets. He said the delegations organised by the TDAP should be prepared in close consultation with chambers to ensure greater representation of private sector at international trading events, such as trade fairs and single country exhibitions that play a vital role to enhance the exports.
He proposed the TDAP should interact with Pakistan's embassies abroad and ask them to give awareness to the business community about the new trends and trade related legal requirements of any particular country or a trading bloc. He said it has been noticed that embassies of our neighbouring countries are playing very active role in promoting trade diplomacy all around the globe in close liaison with their trade supporting organisations.
The textile sector makes contribution to more than 65 percent of total export earning despite the fact Pakistan produces excellent quality fruits and vegetables, Halal meat, auto parts, confectionery items, sports goods and medical equipment etc. He said government should ensure availability of cheap energy for the industry, as the energy was the engine of industrial growth. He said prolonged power outage was hitting the export-oriented industry hard.