Pakistan has decided to hold road shows in four Central Asian Republics of Kazakhastan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan in May this year to showcase Pakistan’s products in pharmaceuticals, textiles, sports, surgical goods, agricultural products and auto parts.
This decision was made at the meeting of the Board of Directors of Export Development Fund (EDF) chaired by Minister for Commerce Khurram Dastgir Khan. The board approved several projects for export facilitation, development and promotion.
The board also approved holding of road shows in Kazakhastan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. The Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) plans to hold the exhibitions in a single visit in the first half of May before Ramazan to seek a diversion of imports of these CARs in the products that Pakistan exports to them. These road shows will provide the private sector an opportunity to establish business-to-business linkages and capitalise on the opportunities which have appeared as a result of the trade diplomacy of Pakistan.
The minister said the CARs have considerable imports in these sectors from around the world but buy very nominal amounts from Pakistan. He was of the view that with the advent of regional connectivity projects in Pakistan with its neighbours, the CARs have shown enhanced interest in importing from Pakistan which was conveyed in clear terms in the chain of visits conducted by the prime minister last year.
The board approved a project for the establishment of a Tannery Zone in Sialkot with an eye on the climate change adaptation through relocating tanneries in leather industrial zones. The project is being implemented under the supervision of Environmental Protection Agency Punjab with the technical and financial assistance of United Nations Industrial Development Organisation.
The project will address the concerns of international buyers who often express alarm at the environmental issues caused by the tanning industry. The meeting was told that the procurement orders would increase as a result of this step.
The meeting also approved the project put forward by the Surgical Instruments Manufacturers Association of Pakistan to purchase hi-tech machinery to bring sophisticated and modern technology in the production methods of surgical goods.
The board directed the TDAP to work in collaboration with the EDF Secretariat, port authorities and officials of anti-narcotics force to establish digital scanning equipment at the ports. The minister said that to enhance export facilitation the ministry aims to replace the time-consuming, physical checking of export consignments at the ports which badly damages the packaging of the consignment with swift and efficient scanning through machines.
The meeting was informed by the president of the Quetta Chambers of Commerce and Industry that the land for the construction of Expo Center Quetta had been selected and negotiations had been held with the provincial government to transfer the land.
