Chief Executive (CE) of Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), Syed Mohibullah Shah has emphasised the need of tapping new markets and concentration on export to Central Asian countries.
Speaking at a meeting of export sub committee of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and a seminar on "Trade prospects with Central Asian Republic countries, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan" on Tuesday, he recalled that several agreements and MoUs were signed in past 15 years with different Central Asian countries and others but they remained unimplemented which causes huge losses to Pakistan's exports.
He further said that now it is the first priority of TDAP to increase Pakistani export and added that to achieve the goal, concentration would be on Central Asian markets. The market is big and Pakistan can easily tap this market with little efforts.
The CE TDAP was of the opening that Pakistan can develop export of marble, agro based industry, rice, vegetables, sports goods etc and each sector export can be increased equal to total exports of textile sector. To achieve this goal, he said, we have to increase production of these sectors and improve quality of end products.
Mohibullah Shah agreed with business community that cost of doing business should be reduced by slashing down power, gas tariff and other taxes. He was of the view that Pakistan should produce 60 percent of its total power requirement from its indigenous resources including coal. It is not possible to reduce power tariff without initiating power generating projects based on indigenous resources, he commented.
He advised the business community to make efforts to convince foreign investors to invest in Pakistan in joint ventures, as well as seek their help in transfer of latest technology.
Mohibullah Shah assured that TDAP would provide all possible assistance to business community as well as one window facility at TDAP. Referring to Trade Development Fund (TDF), he said that the authority is initiating 12 different project from this fund to increase exports of Pakistani products. He said that in July 2009 TDAP would organise a Pak mango festival in Moscow. He said that a delegation would visit Kazakhstan, Uzbikistan and Kyrgyzstan by road in July this year. Russians are also interested to join this trip, he added
Chairman of the KCCI sub committee, M. Shariq Vohra said that without developing small and medium enterprises (SMEs), exports couldn't be increased. To develop these sectors it is necessary that this sector be given incentives. He suggested that commercial councillor be posted abroad in consultation with trade bodies.