August 29, 2002	Thursday	Jamadi-us-Saani 19,1423

ISLAMABAD, Aug 28: Pakistan and Turkey should dispense with over-dependence on textile and diversify products in order to boost bilateral trade, Commerce Minister Abdul Razak Dawood stressed here on Wednesday.

While discussing various proposals on mutual trade ties with the Ambassador of Turkey, H. Kemal Gur, according to an official source, he suggested the exploration of avenues other than textiles such as leather products, surgical goods, sports goods, fresh and dry fruits, furniture, fans, air conditioners, marble, handicraft, pharmaceuticals, cement, etc.

He was confident that the trade relations between Pakistan and Turkey would grow in the days to come.

The government of Pakistan, he told the Turkish envoy, had offered an attractive package of incentives and allied facilities to the prospective Turkish investors in the Oil & Gas sector, small and medium enterprises, agro-based industries and information technology.

He, however, observed that improved information dissemination was essential for giving fillip to exports. Wide publicity through print media, websites, brochures and seminars could help the potential exporters of Pakistan to increase their exports.

In this connection, he suggested that single country exhibition by the Export Promotion Bureau in Istanbul with right to sell, especially where Pakistan had an edge, could be useful.

Besides, the government was ready to send professional and technical manpower such as doctors, architects, software developers, etc. This would increase exposure of Pakistanis in Turkey and help organize Pakistani community in the brother country, he added.

The Commerce Minister further proposed the setting up of a regular charter vessel between Karachi and Istanbul, regular exchange of trade delegations and the establishment at Istanbul of a permanent display centre of Pakistani products. Moreover, Pakistan could boost its export of textiles to Europe by warehousing its textile products in the Turkish free trade zones. The setting up of a joint marketing company by the private sector was also proposed by Dawood.

He recalled that the joint business council established by FPCCI and Foreign Economic Relation Board of Turkey had held its fourth meeting at Ankara last June. The meeting had concluded with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding.

Responding to the Minister’s remarks, the Turkish Ambassador assured him that the government of Turkey would undertake all possible steps to further boost trade relations and facilitate Pakistani exporters in the areas of textile, leather, fruits and sports goods. He also stressed the need to evolve technical mechanism and exchange of know-how to meet trade requirements.