Pakistani exporters learned on Thursday about opportunities to sell over 3,500 products duty-free in the United States at a seminar jointly sponsored by the US and Pakistani governments. Exporters from Peshawar, Karachi, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) participated in a video seminar that detailed the advantages of the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) programme, which offers Pakistani exporters duty-free market access to the United States for 3,511 products.
At viewing sites in Karachi and Islamabad, Pakistani exporters heard how to take advantage of the GSP programme for a range of products, including certain manufactured items and inputs, jewellery, agricultural products, chemicals, minerals, marble and carpets. "The United States supports Pakistan's economic revival," said US Embassy economic officer Brandon Possin. He said that the such video seminars and similar initiatives demonstrate the US emphasis on "trade not just aid" and moving the US-Pakistan relationship toward one based on increased economic connections and private sector innovation. "The United States buys more Pakistani exports than any other country, and we want this economic relationship to continue to grow and create jobs in both countries," said Possin at the Pakistan Institute of Trade and Development (PITAD), which hosted the Islamabad viewing site.
Deputy Assistant US Trade Representative Bill Jackson told seminar participants that US imports from Pakistan under the GSP programme surged by 49 percent in 2012, reaching $195 million, one of the largest increases among all major GSP beneficiary countries. US Department of Commerce representative David Nufrio described for the Pakistani exporters other opportunities, including the Special American Business Internship Training (SABIT) program scheduled for May-June 2014 that will increase export opportunities for gems and jewellery exporters.
This video seminar is just one of the ways that the United States works with Pakistan toward increased trade and a brighter economic future. The second US-Pakistan Business Opportunities Conference, which takes place in Dubai on June 25-26, will offer a business matchmaking platform where Pakistani exporters can meet with US importers, and US companies can learn about opportunities for doing business in Pakistan.-PR