31 December 2004	Friday	18 Ziqa'ad 1425

KARACHI, Dec 30: Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar Khan has convened two meetings in Islamabad early next month to discuss and solve problems facing leather garment sector.

The minister was chairing a meeting of Pakistan Leather Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PLGMEA) at Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) here on Thursday. Secretary Commerce Tasneem Noorani was also present on the occasion.

Mr Humayun said that these meetings would consider issues of duty drawback, export of raw skin and wet blue leather, upgrading skills, freight subsidy, market access to Russia, participation in exhibition, installation of machinery and research and development.

He said that the meeting of Export Development Fund (EDF) board would be held on January 3 while meeting with CBR chairman in the second week of January 2005. -APP