ISLAMABAD, June 1: The Australian government has further liberalized services sector for developing countries, including Pakistan, by allowing the temporary entry and stay to business people for providing services in that market. The 148-WTO member countries under the July 2004 package had fixed May 31, 2005 as a deadline for submission of improved offers required under the general agreement on trade in services (GATS).

Only two countries Australia and Canada had submitted the revised offer in services within the scheduled time period. And 78 countries including Pakistan have submitted their initial offers. Excluding the least developed countries (LDCs), around 38 member countries are yet to submit even an initial offer, overdue since March 2003.

Behrain, Chinese Taipei (Taiwan), Ice Land, Korea, Singapore, Surinam, United States and Thailand have submitted their revised offer on Wednesday. The European Commission, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, Norway, Chilli were supposed to submit their revised offer this week.

A summary of the revised offer of Australian government, made available to Dawn by Australian High Commission to Pakistan Zorica McCarthy, the major concern of the developing countries including Pakistan has been addressed by allowing temporary entry to business people in Australia.

“This responds directly to the concerns and interest of developing countries. And reflects Australia’s own strong interests in achieving more open access to the markets of other countries for our services professionals.”

Under Mode-4 (temporary movement of natural persons) of Australia, intra-corporate transferees allowed temporary stay up to 4 years with provision of extension, specialists up to two years with provision of extension, independent executive maximum up to two years with no extension and business visitors up to six months with provision of extension.

The Australian government offer for foreign service providers (FSPs) includes —legal, telecommunication, environmental, private health, freight logistics, construction and related engineering services, air transport (marketing) services and other business services.

The offers on legal, telecommunications and freight logistics services were more ambitious than those made to date by any other WTO member countries. “These services are all essential pillars of business infrastructure that promote and facilitate trade in both goods and services as well as investment. We are particularly keen that other member countries match our offers in these sectors,” the Australian government said.

However, Australia would not make any offers in the areas of public health, public education or water for human use.