Pakistan Leather Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PLGMEA) has welcomed the export promotion measures announced in Trade Policy 2004-2005.
Chairman, PLGMEA Fawad Ijaz Khan, appreciating the trade policy commented, in a press statement that it was mainly the continuation of the previous policy and this consistency would enable exporters to effectively utilise several relief packages and measures announced to enhance the country's exports.
He lauded the decision to allow import of non-prohibited fur for leather garments industry and observed that the restriction on import of furs imposed in the Import Policy 2000 was an anomaly. There was no justification in disallowing import of such fur trimmings previously and it was creating problems for exporters of leather garments, he added.
However, he pointed out that no relaxation was given in the Trade Policy pertaining to use of domestic furs as fur trimmings in leather garments production. Highlighting the other salient features of the current trade policy, he said that increase in monetary limit of export samples from $10,000 to $25,000 annually was a significant step to promote the country's exports.
This would allow exporters greater flexibility in sampling for foreign buyers, he added.
He said that scheme for attracting buyers driven FDI for sourcing of export oriented industries like leather garments, surgical goods, footwear etc, would hopefully yield good results in the form of strategic alliances with prominent international buyers.The incentive for effluent treatment plants would also prove beneficial for the leather industry, while the announcement of cheaper 'bulk' rates and 'off-peak' rates to exporters would be instrumental in reducing their costs and making them more competitive in international market, he remarked. He said that the scheme to enhance labour productivity would hopefully bring country's labour-intensive export industries like leather garments, cotton garments etc, abreast with latest skills and technologies being employed world-wide.
Moreover, the long-term financing scheme announced by SBP for exporters would also be helpful for exporters in improving their liquidity and reducing their financial burden, while the facility to export imported goods without value addition was also a positive step, he observed.
He also appreciated various infrastructure development schemes announced in the trade policy but criticised their funding from EDF and contended that funding of these mega projects from EDF would inevitably lead to problems in sanctioning grants for marketing and training projects. On the new export target, he opined that given the right entrepreneurial approach and government support for enhancing export the new target of $13.7 billion was quite achievable.
Pakistan Commercial Exporters of Towels Association (PCETA), in its representative meeting on Friday has welcomed the trade policy 2004-2005 and congratulated the Commerce Minister, Humayun Akhtar on presenting such a good policy.
The association termed the policy as export-friendly, which did not only maintain the previously announced relief's for exporters but it had further provided more incentives and facilities in term of creating better infrastructure and allowing import of used textile machinery. The association further lauded the minister for encouraging women entrepreneurs by providing them full funding for their participation in international fairs and exhibitions. It further commented that the export target of $13.7 billion was quite achievable and assured the minister and EPB of its fullest co-operation in the pursuit of the new export target.
ABDUL SHAKOOR KHATRI APPRECIATES TRADE POLICY: In another press statement, Abdul Shakoor Khatri, a renowned businessman, leading industrialist & Founder Chairman of All Pakistan Textile Processing Mills Association congratulated Commerce Minister, Humayun Akhtar Khan for successfully presenting the Trade Policy 200405.
Prior to the finalisation of Trade Policy 2004-05, comprehensive consultative process was completed with all the stakeholders, which covers all sectors of trade & industry.
He declared the bold steps taken by the present government for extending the special package for promotion of garment sector to compete in the post quota environment, export strategy, allowed the import of used machinery for textile construction, mining and petroleum sectors, reviewed & facilitation the sales tax regime for export products, strengthening of commercial courts for timely resolution of trade disputes as essential measures required for maintaining trust of foreign buyers.
He said government policy makers should more emphasis by giving more facilities to Pakistan Export City Sialkot & industrial estates in rural areas where chunk of unemployed peoples could find jobs and stressed for implementation of various decisions of regional trade agreement between Saarc and ECO countries.
However with conducive policy of present government the given export target would be met easily and after WTO & quota regime Pakistan government should mobilise for immediate functioning of textile city, allocated more funds for Industrial expenditures, infra-structure, he proposed. Government deserved credit for planning green industry initiatives to control pollution & healthy environment in industrial areas, he observed.