February 04, 2007	Sunday	Muharram 15, 1428

ISLAMABAD, Feb 3: Pakistan will seek duty free market access for export of fruits to Thailand under the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two countries.

An official in the commerce ministry said on Saturday that a high-level delegation had left for Bangkok to negotiate the proposed agreement with his Thai counterpart.

The two countries had already established study groups for identifying areas for increasing trade and other cooperation under the proposed FTA between the two countries.

The official said that both sides have agreed principally on duty free access for some fruits on either side, as a first step to a FTA between the two countries. Currently, customs duty applicable on export of fruits was in the range of 50 per cent on both sides.

According to the official Bangkok will withdraw import duty on mango, pomegranate, kinoo and long grapes from Pakistan.

Similarly, Pakistan will lift duty on the import of rambutan, mangosteen, longan and guava.

Pakistan exports yarn and fabrics, chemicals, finished oils and edible meat to Thailand. It imports automobiles, auto parts and accessories, chemical products, polymers, yarn and man-made filaments, rubber and rubber products.