Sunday, June 19, 2011

Exports may touch $25bn by year-end

LAHORE, June 18: Pakistan’s dependence on US and European Union (EU) for its exports is reducing as their share has scaled down from 60 to 40 per cent at present.
Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) Chief Executive Tariq Iqbal Puri stated this in a media briefing on Saturday.
The TDAP Director-General, Mohammad Irfan Tarar, DG (SRO) Chaudhry Mohammad Ali, Director Yasmeen Qureshi were also
present.
Puri said that Pakistani export products are fast taking a niche in the markets of Egypt, the Middle East, China, Japan, South East Asia, Far East and Africa.
He said that export target for current fiscal year has been revised from $20 billion to $24 billion, and so far export figure was recorded at $22.5 billion, and hoped that this figure would further shoot up to $25 billion by June end. Though there was value factor in higher exports, the non-traditional exports volume increased quantitatively, he added.
To a question, the CEO said the authority was focusing on value-addition of exportable products, which would definitely increase value and quantity of exports manifold.To another query, he said that the TDAP had been discouraging livestock export at every forum, adding such an export deprived the leather sector of animal skins and other remains, which could provide maximum foreign reserves through their value-addition.
Other than increase in value, there has been a major increase in terms of quantity of products if we compare it with the period of July-April FY 2010-11 with corresponding period of last fiscal year.
This include 30.8pc in wheat, 8.1pc in pulses: 66pc in meat; 40pc in tobacco; 38pc in synthetic textile, 31pc in knitwear; 25pc in electric fans; 24pc in vegetables; 23pc in fish; 22pc in plastic material; 20pc in leather etc.
In addition to focusing on regional activities, he said the TDAP had planned to enhance its export promotion activities around the globe with special focus on China and Japan.
Puri said the arrangements for a four-day 6th Expo Pakistan exhibition to be held in Karachi from October 20, 2011, were in full swing, adding, the response of foreign buyers and local exhibitors is very encouraging.
The TDAP has declared China as the focus country for its trade initiatives in 2011-2012 and plans to participate in more than 20 fairs in China as part of Pakistan-China 60-year of establishment of diplomatic relations and recently held the first successful business forum in Kunming, China.
The Japanese government has recently lifted the ban on import of Pakistani mangoes and TDAP is engaging consultants for setting up of VHT plants at Karachi and Multan to take full advantage of market access opportunities made available due to lifting of ban.
However, the trial shipment is being processed through a Pilot VHT plant already established near Karachi Airport, which has the capacity of processing 60kg mangoes per day.
He said that he recently led a 111-member delegation to Tajikistan, which has tremendous export potential in textile, leather, fisheries, food products, marble and minerals. Pakistan fully supports Tajikistan’s bid to join World Trade Organisation (WTO).—APP