TDAP facilitates trade opportunities to USA

KARACHI: The Ministry of Commerce, under the auspices of “Emerging Pakistan”, is endeavoring to promote the export sector and has taken a special initiative to maximize its outreach to the business community and other key stakeholders of Pakistan.

Starting off with the rigorous rounds of consultations, the Ministry of Commerce organized the first seminar on “Trade opportunities in China, Indonesia and the United States of America”, facilitated by Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) on 16th March, 2019 at Expo Centre, Lahore.

The Federal Secretary Commerce, Younus Dagha made a detailed presentation on the Pak-China trade relations with specific reference to there view of tariff lines. Within the perspective of China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement (CPFTA), Younus Dagha emphasized that Pakistan has gained a unique bargaining power with China such as inclusion of balance of trade clause in the agreement, revision of safeguard provisions and gaining a favorable consideration on immediate elimination of tariff on Pakistan’s top 65 priority items.

This breakthrough in negotiations is hoped to enhance Pakistan’s exports to China and may also benefit our exporters in achieving greater market access in Indonesia and USA in the wake of withdrawal of GSP status from India and Turkey by USA, he added.

The Advisor to Prime Minister on Commerce, Textiles, Production, Industries and Investment, Razak Dawood, reiterated his commitment to substantially enhance Pakistan’s export base, focusing on import substitution and building the capacity across all sectors of local industry.

He particularly appreciated Secretary Commerce and his team’s efforts in formulating an effective policy, rooted in stakeholder consultation and rigorous trade negotiations that helped Pakistan gain an edge in ensuring its national interests.

The Additional Secretary Commerce, Director General TDAP Lahore and other senior officers of Ministry of Commerce and TDAP were also present at the occasion. The event was well-attended by Presidents and Chairpersons of chambers and trade bodies from Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Multan and Gujrat and leading business persons from export sectors including sports goods, auto parts, cutlery, surgical, home textiles, carpets, furniture and upholstery, textile spinning and processing, gloves, tanners and leather goods, footwear, light engineering and equipment, etc which resulted in a fruitful discussion on trade policy recommendations for Ministry of Commerce.