January 5, 2003	Sunday	Ziqa’ad 1, 1423

KARACHI, Jan 4: The Export Promotion Bureau is drawing up an export development strategy which focuses mainly on the US and China and about a dozen items to push up Pakistan’s export to 15 billion dollars figure in the coming years.

A tentative export development plan for the US has already been prepared in consultation with “selected American importers”, according to the Bureau Chairman Tariq Ikram. It has now been offered to a large number of exporters in Pakistan to elicit their views.

Another plan focussing on China market is in process of finalization. It will also be circulated among the exporters dealing with China market and is expected to be a reference document in the forthcoming inter-ministerial commission and Pakistan-China Business council meetings.

“The strategy would employ certain tangible and intangible measures, which would directly and indirectly help Pakistan in increasing its market share in the USA,” Tariq Ikram told this correspondent in his office.

The US remains the biggest market of Pakistani exports absorbing as much as 22 to 25 per cent of the total exports. But when compared to total US imports, exports from Pakistan in America is ridiculously low and hardly 0.2 per cent of its total imports.

The strategy is to identify specific items, selected departmental stores, local sectoral trade bodies, key importers and then go for an aggressive marketing. It would involve inviting US importers to Pakistan to see for themselves the production facilities and logistics available here to ensure quick and timely delivery of goods.

Understandably textile and garments constitute the key element of the export development strategy for the US and the bureau expects a rise of 400 to 450 million dollars jump in the coming years.

Clothing and textile imports in the US is worth about 79 billion dollars a year. Of this Pakistan’s share is about 1.84 billion dollars. All these textile imports from Pakistan are of low value when compared to textile imports from other countries into the US.

The EPB expects a modest 2.5 per cent growth in textile exports to the US every year and eventually a 25 per cent rise in exports in next five years. “Inflow of additional Rs30 billion or so from the US in next five years should give tremendous boost to economic activity in Pakistani textiles,” Shabbir Ahmad a local textile dealer said. exporters say that this increase in export should create many jobs in Pakistan.

The bureau planners are focussing on a number of other items, which at present are being supplied in small and insignificant quantities to the US. But these items have tremendous potential to increase —as much as 1,000 per cent — in ratio in the coming years.

With highest number of automobiles in the world, the US is importing 45.50 billion dollars worth of auto parts every year. Pakistan is reported to have made its token presence in auto parts market recently with a share of a little over one million dollars worth.

Some investment, upgradation in production technology, update on US market demand and aggressive marketing efforts could create a market of 14 to 15 million dollars of Pakistan made auto parts.

Fisheries is other area with potential of

Export plan to focus on US, China five times rise to more than 50 million dollars a year from existing 10 million dollars. US has to import fish worth 10 billion dollars every year to meet the demand of its citizens.

Now that fish harbours in Pakistan are getting cleaner looks and modern techniques are being used for fish catch, preservation and grading the export planners are hopeful of grabbing a good share in the US market.

Leather and leather goods, sport goods, carpets, marble and granite, furniture, gems and jewllery are some of the products, which are found to be market worthy in the US.

Information technology is one area which has a big question mark before it after collapse of giant US companies in last one year. But a few Pakistanis are big names in the US information technology market and planners pin their hopes in them for getting a share in future.

The EPB is beginning a series of consultations on this export development plan in Karachi and other cities. Leaders of sectoral trade bodies would be asked to give their views before putting a final seal of approval an operational plan.