KARACHI, Jan 12: Pakistan has export potential and will achieve $12.1 billion exports target in the fiscal year 2003-04. It will be for fourth consecutive year in the country's exports growth - for the first time in last 50 years, when exports and imports went up and down.

Pakistan exported goods worth $4.834 billion during July-November 2003, almost in line with the target and 11.5 per cent above the last year, said Tariq Ikram, Minister of State and Chairman of Export Promotion Bureau in interview with PPI.

Of $4.834 billion exports in July-November 2003, share of textiles and garments was 67.3pc valued $3.3 billion, 1pc above the target and 12pc more of the last fiscal.

Mr Ikram said export of other core products - rice, leather, sports, carpets, surgical and petroleum products - was $904 million in the first five months of the current fiscal year, 4pc more than the last year, with rice registering 29pc increase over the last year.

In leather and leather garments, exports in the current fiscal were of $299 million - 4pc below last year, largely due to tanned leather, which is 12pc below the same period of the last fiscal.

He said leather products' use had changed globally, besides growing competition from Korea and China. "We invited Korean experts who on seeing 21 industries gave advice to improve quality and standards so that leather products become competitive."

Carpets export of $88 million so far was 20pc above last year and the target of $200 million would be achieved. Petroleum products export was $88 million, 10pc above the last year's period and $264 million target will be achieved. In molasses exports are 20pc above last year and expected target of $48 million will be achieved.

The state minister said meat and meat preparations export, specially for the UAE and Saudi Arabia are doing well - 57pc above last year. There was $677 million export of non-traditional products in July- November 2003 - 17pc growth over the last year, on which the EPB is concentrating to diversify exports.

Mr Ikram said against total exports of $4.834 billion and imports of $5.36 billion during July-November 2003, deficit was only $500 million. He said the EPB launched schemes this year to provide facilities to the exporters. The EPB is hiring marketing consultants to guide exporters in e-Commerce, brochure development, sales presentation, better participation in exhibitions, fairs and international marketing.-PPI