The United States is working on a law for duty-free access of the products to be produced in the industrial units of the proposed Reconstruction Opportunity Zones (ROZs) to its markets. The legislation in this regard is expected to be completed by the end of the current calendar year.
This was stated by Ghazanfar Bilour, a former president of Sarhad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCI) while addressing a press conference after his return from the United States on Friday.
He said that the US officials had told him that the US administration has sanctioned an amount of $180 million to USAID for initiation of development schemes in tribal areas while President Bush has announced additional $60 million for development works in the bordering areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan. The United States was likely to spend $750 million on the development of tribal areas, he added.
During his stay in the United States, Bilour attended a State Department briefing on ROZs in Washington on October 2 and also attended meetings of US Chamber of Commerce and US-Pakistan Business Council. In Pak embassy in Washington, he held meeting with US Consultant, Hunton and Williams regarding establishment of the proposed ROZs.
He also briefed the US officials on the scope of investment in marble & granite, gems, hydel power generation, agri-engineering, agriculture, furniture, safety matches, fresh & dry fruits, tobacco, textiles, leather, pharmaceuticals, tourism and related services.
"I have told them that industrial and business activities in tribal areas are pre-requisite for the elimination of extremism and terrorism from the region." Ghazanfar said that I have also suggested the officials that Hayatabad Industrial Estate, Gadoon Amazai, Kohat, Bannu and Mardan areas should be given the status of ROZs. He said that he had also called for continuation of incentives of the ROZs for a period of 20 years.
He said that the establishment of the zones would require huge investment besides continuation of incentives, otherwise, the fate of these zones would not be different from that of the Gadoon Amazai Industrial Estate. He said that the US officials had assured him that not only they will consider his recommendations, but also utilise them in the promotion of friendship and trade relations between the two countries.