KARACHI, July 8: Chairman, Pakistan Leather Garments Manufacturers & Exporters Association (PLGMEA), Fawad Ijaz Khan and executive board members held a meeting with minister-designate (trade) to Pakistan embassy in US, Ashraf Mohammad Hayat.

The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the problems being faced by the leather garments exporters in the US market, and to devise a strategy to boost exports to the US.

The chairman, PLGMEA, said that the US is the biggest market for Pakistan leather garments with exports stood around $67 million in 2000-2001. This accounts for nearly 18 per cent of total leather garments exports.

He said, “there is a great scope for our products in the US market and our exporters can penetrate further if proper market study and import/export statistics are made available to them.”

It was also felt that direct marketing campaign provides the foundation for building relationships with client and channel members. Database and lists of importers, wholesalers, agents, etc., are an important source to boost exports.

Commercial counsellors, he said, could play vital role in gathering and disseminating essential information and could identify up-to-date and relevant buyer lists for making contracts.

Fawad Ijaz said Pakistani products and exporters face a serious problem of negative image. It is the job of the commercial counsellors to try and project a positive image of the country.