ISLAMABAD – Ambassador of the European Union to Pakistan Androulla Kaminarahas stressed the need for more value-addition and product diversity toexploit the full potential of market access to the EU countries under GSPPlus regime for Pakistan, as country’s exports to the EU have increased by62% after the grant of this status in 2014.
In a meeting, hosted in honour of the Ambassador by the All PakistanBusiness Forum, she said that the EU can assist Pakistan to expand itsexports and uplift its industry through collaboration with the APBF bylaunching joint ventures in various sectors.
The meeting was attended by APBF President Syed Maaz Mahmood, secretarygeneral Khurram Niaz Khan and other Board Members including Amir Ata Barry,Yaqoob Saifi, Amir Munir Malik, Nadeem Sheikh, Saman Yazdani, SafdarHussain, M. Faisal, Manzoor Malik, Uzma Manzar and Advocate Ashfaq Ahmad.
The envoy, on this occasion, briefed the APBF about her focus andpriorities while appreciating the talent and potential of Pakistani nation.She said Pakistani businessmen should reach out to the outside world toshow the potential of their products that would help in attracting moreinvestment and promoting trade. She said both Pakistan and the EU countriesshould focus on diversification to improve trade and identify otherpotential areas of mutual cooperation.
Ambassador appreciated the role of APBF in boosting trade activities in theregion and added that her embassy would be in touch with the Forum toincrease the bilateral ties. The Idea of holding a conference and seminarin collaboration with the APBF on Ease of doing business and climate changewas also discussed.
The EU Ambassador appreciated the APBF dedicated efforts for the uplift ofPakistan economy, saying it’s a beautiful country and has a greatpotential. She said that Pakistan can make more progress by putting in bestefforts for Skill Workforce development and EU can also take some positivestep to support it.
APBF president Syed Maaz Mahmood, on this occasion, said that the countriesof the European Union have been the most important trading partner ofPakistan, accounting for almost 33% Pakistan’s total exports, which isencouraging, as the trade figures with the EU countries have been goingupward.
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He said that Pakistan’s exports to European Union registered a positivegrowth and improvement, increasing from $ 7 billion to $ 8 billion duringlast fiscal year. Pakistan’s exports to EU were dominated by textilesproducts, accounting for more than 75 percent of Pakistan’s total exportsto the EU. He stressed the need for greater diversity in exports ofproducts to EU, including carpets, leather, furniture, plastics, sportsgoods and agri-products.
He said that Special Economic Zones are being established and Pakistan hassufficiently improved the required infrastructure in this regard. He saidthat the country has been availing tariff concession under GSP-Plus status,as it has signed and implementing 27 International Conventions pertainingto human rights, labour rights, environment and good governance.
“We have taken a number of initiatives to ensure compliance to these 27 ILOconventions by enacting new laws, taking corrective measures both atplanning and implementation stages to combat environmental issues too.
The relevant labour laws are being enforced by the Labour & Human ResourceDept and the EU Parliament has also expressed satisfaction on thisprogress,” he added.—INP
