The government has organised visits of 36 trade delegations abroad during last two years to broaden the exports base and upgrade potential of country's products in different countries. Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) arranged these visits which provided an opportunity to business community for direct buyer-seller contact through match-making interactions.
According to official sources here Friday, TDAP with its new mandate of focusing products and markets was putting efforts to upgrade export potential of products where Pakistan has competitive advantage and increasing their market share in traditional as well as new markets.
The sources said in order to boost exports of the country, the authority has adopted numerous measures and performed some promotional activities for export development during last two years which included restructuring of TDAP, development of new export strategy, products and services focused export development and market focused export development. The sources said diversification of markets is an important thrust of TDAP strategy, which is taking special efforts for these markets to enhance exports.
The other tool the authority applied during the period was Pakistan's participation in 129 fairs and exhibitions world-wide and organising matchmaking meetings of delegates with 60 textile exporters at Karachi and Faisalabad and also organising factory visits, the sources said. These meetings have helped opened new avenues for Pakistani exporters and given a break through to them. Buying Missions from Russia, South Africa and Yemen were also invited during the period, the sources added.
The sources further said the authority also invited a high profile Pharmaceutical/Surgical Instruments buying Mission from Yemen last year and arranged introductory meeting of delegation, visits to the factories, match making sessions in Karachi, Lahore and Sialkot. Pakistani Pharmaceutical companies, which had meetings with Yemeni delegation are expecting increase in exports probably by two folds of their pharmaceutical products in Yemen which were US $0.439 million in 2008-09.
The TDAP has been regularly organising interactive sessions with Commercial Counsellors, Consul Generals, Ambassadors and Foreign Trade Officers deputed in Pakistan to improve market knowledge of exporters. These interactive sessions have been highly appreciated by exporters as they have been acquiring market know-how without any fees. The TDAP organised interactive sessions.