All the Export Promotion Bureau's Employees from grade one to 15 would be inducted in the newly established Trade Development Authority (TDA). This was decided in a high level meeting regarding establishment of the TDA to replace the EPB, held in Islamabad on Tuesday.
Federal Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar Khan chaired the meeting while Secretary Commerce Asif Shah, EPB chairman Tariq Ikram, Vice Chairman Zafar Mehmood and other high officials of the EPB and the Ministry of Commerce attended the meeting.
Sources told Business Recorder here on Wednesday that all the issues for establishment of TDA to replace the EPB were discussed thoroughly. Almost all the issues, except the issue to induct Commerce and Trade (C&T) officers, were resolved during the meeting.
A very important issue of around 600 EPB employees from grade one to 15 was resolved and it was decided in the meeting that all these employees would be retained in the TDA. All these employees would be given proper training in reputable institutions for their capacity building, skill development and to enhance their working skills. The TDA would pay the entire cost of their training.
The issue of C&T officers would be discussed in a meeting with Secretary Establishment to be held in the next few days.
It was learnt reliably that a majority of the C&T officers would also be inducted in the TDA, but they would go thorough the process of human resource audit. The audit would be conducted through a reputed independent private agency to assess their ability. These officers would be accommodated according to their ability in various departments of the TDA, the source said.
The establishment of the TDA to replace the EPB which was expected to be announced in the first week of June 2006 is now expectedly be announced between June 10 to 15, 2006.
Federal commerce minister would be the chairman of this newly established organisation, which would be run by a chief executive officer and 20 directors. As many as 70 percent of its directors would be appointed from the private sector while around 200 highly qualified and experienced professionals would also be appointed to run this new organisation in a very modern manner and according to the needs of the global market.