07 January 2004	Wednesday	14 Ziqa'ad 1424

KARACHI, Jan 6: Deputy Economic Counsellor of USA in Pakistan Joel Reifman has said that the US government was considering to review its subsidization policy to comply with the WTO obligations.

He was responding to the queries of the chairman and members of All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (Aptma) regarding subsidies to US growers during his visit to Aptma principal office here on Tuesday.

According to Aptma, Mr Reifman informed the meeting that the US government was interested in streamlining the Pakistani's economy particularly textile which is the major contributor and suggested that the Pakistan government should create investment-friendly atmosphere to encourage US investment in the country.

He also suggested that Pakistan entrepreneurs interested in doing business with the US companies should speak in one voice at the appropriate forum instead of their individual approach as this would help them removing confusion and other irritants as discussed in the meeting.

Mr Reifman visited Aptma office to have an overview of the Pakistan's textile industry and various issues confronting to market access to US. Chairman Aptma Waqar Monnoo gave a presentation on the textile sector in which the growth of the textile industry particularly emphasizes on the spinning, weaving and value-added exports to US.

Mr Reifman was informed about the impediments in the exports of Pakistani textiles to US and was requested to provide a level-playing field to Pakistan since the US is an important and largest market for Pakistani textiles.

The deputy economic counsellor was also informed that during the past years, Pakistan imported $560 million worth goods and services from US which included $18.62 million of textile goods, dyes and textile machinery items.

He was further informed that Pakistan is a biggest buyer of PIMA Cotton from US. It was suggested that joint ventures in textiles would benefit both the countries.-APP