SIALKOT, April 29: Chairman Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) Tariq Ikram has said that EPB has focused its special attention on bringing radical changes in the export sector for strengthening the national economy as well as to create a strong industrial base in the country.
This was stated by him, while addressing a meeting of local industrialists and exporters at Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) after visiting various industrial units in Sialkot city on Tuesday.
Punjab’s Industries Minister Muhammad Ajmal Cheema, SCCI President Babar Iqbal and Vice president Malik Muhammad Ashraf were also present in the meeting.
The EPB chairman assured Sialkot exporters that after the US-led coalition war in Iraq, the majority of Iraqi importing firms has confirmed to EPB that all the export orders already placed by them before Iraq war will be honoured by them, as they have vowed to continue to place their orders to Pakistani exporting firms. He said that EPB struggled hard for enhancing Pakistani exports to Iraq from $2 million to $100 million.
Tariq Ikram announced that EPB is ready to provide all the needed technical, moral and financial assistance to Sialkot export-oriented cottage industries.
He said that all means are being mobilised for bringing sufficient increase in country’s exports, as the EPB has formulated a revolutionary “trade and exports friendly” investment and trading policy for the country’s industrial sector. he said under this policy, the foreign manufacturers will bring their ultra-modern technologies into Pakistan, while, Pakistani investors would be given many trade-related incentives.
Tariq Ikram urged the sports and leather goods and surgical and musical instruments manufacturers and exporters of Sialkot to focus their attention on diversification of products for coping with the new global challenges and demands more easily.
Chairman EPB said that exploring non-traditional markets and introducing traditional and non-traditional export products of Pakistan in foreign markets is the utmost need of the hour.
EPB chairman said Sialkot is heart of Pakistan exports. Sialkot’s exporters can capture and explore world’s new traditional and non-traditional export-markets by exporting their diversified export-items.
He said that Pakistan had earned one billion dollars through the exports of non-tradition products, adding that strenuous efforts will be made for further enhancing the export volume of non-traditional products.
He said that the need of bringing innovation in products has become more vital for competing in the international markets and the new challenges of the world, adding that the present era is the epoch of economic war and keeping in view the change in trends, the exporters should concentrate on it.
Tariq Ikram asked the Sialkot’s exporters and manufacturers to participate in different trade fairs and exhibitions of the world, adding that they should also ensure their participation in non-traditional trade fairs and exhibitions arranged by various countries for fetching business.
He said EPB will also encourage women entrepreneurship at every level in active collaboration with the private sector.
EPB chairman also announced to double the quota of space and construction of stands in international trade fair ISPO summer 2003 for Sialkot’s exporters.
Later, addressing the meeting Sialkot-based Punjab minister for industries, Muhammad Ajmal Cheema said that he has submitted before the punjab cabinet an effective proposal of merging all the taxes into a single tax. He hoped that the provincial cabinet will soon okay this proposal, without any hesitation.
He said that the small industrial estate department will soon start providing soft term loans to SMEs on 6 per cent markup for enhancing their working capital.
Muhammad Ajmal Cheema said that the Punjab government is considering establishing textile and leather training institutions in Sialkot and others areas of the province to produce skilled and unskilled labour force.
