February 11, 2007	Sunday	Muharram 22, 1428

KARACHI, Feb 10: The first board meeting of the newly-formed Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) will be held on Tuesday for seeking approval relating to financial and budgetary matters for 2006-07, and also to seek a nod for developing chain management for which eight executive directors have been hired to be blended with existing senior officers of the defunct Export Promotion Bureau (EPB).

Talking to newsmen on Saturday, TDAP chief executive Tariq Ikram said after the promulgation of TDAP Ordinance on Nov 8, 2006, within a short period of 45 days, draft with regard to financial, administrative and human resource policies were completed and would be put up before the board for approval.

He said transparency was being maintained while dealing with all matters relating to the TDAP formation and establishment, and terms of reference were being made for each segment of the setup.

Tariq Ikram said manpower strength in the EPB was 896, out of which 137 belonged to EMD and 128 from the commerce and trade group.

However, the actual approved strength was 948 which meant that still there were 62 vacancies.

He categorically stated that under the laid down policy in the TDAP Ordinance, the existing staff of the EPB would not be removed because the new organisation would like to get full benefit from their experience and knowledge.

However, Tariq Ikram said deficiencies and weaknesses would be removed by imparting training and this task would be given to Human Resource consultant.

Nevertheless, he warned that even after getting the required training, if an individual does not improves his skills, the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan would be left with no choice but to surrender his services to the government so that he may be placed to some other task and job.

Referring to administrative powers of the TDAP, he said they would be vested in a 27-member board, constituted under the chairmanship of the minister of commerce.

The members of the board will belong to key public and private sector.

There will be 17 members from public sector and 10 from the private sector on the TDAP board, having strong linkages with supply side to ensure an enabling environment for trade development.

He further stated that the chief executive of the authority would serve as vice-chairman, and the secretary of the authority would act as secretary of the board. As the TDAP would be responsible for global marketing of country’s goods and services, the commercial officers located at the missions abroad would now be integrated into the marketing structure of the Authority.

The trade officers once assigned would have a dual reporting responsibility which is a change from the previous modus operandi. Now they would be reporting into their support group i.e. continent, region, territory and the head office.

The TDAP, he said, was an empowered body corporate, having full financial authority vested in chief executive. This is a major change that would expedite decision-making as financial remit is also placed under the same roof where the initiatives and programme for the authority are planned.

Since the EC will be having powers of Principal Accounting Officer (PAO), he will be accountable to the board’s executive committee who will be responsible for day-to-day operations and working of the TDAP. However, the executive board will also have to seek board’s approval with regard to annual budget and ensure that their spending have been made according to approved financial rules and regulations.

Answering a question Tariq Ikram said the 10-member executive committee of the TDAP board is headed by the chairman of the board and could take decisions on behalf of the TDAP board whose members stand at 27.

The board, he said, is required to meet at least twice a year. However, the executive committee would continue to deliberate on emerging issues and priorities within an empowered forum.

He said that the TDAP had been set up to be dedicated, effectively empowered, professional and commercially managed to lead the cause of exports. In the face of severe global competition, the organisation has to step away from a limited promotional and facilitation role to a dedicated and proactive role to facilitate the holistic development and promotion of international trade with enhanced and diversified responsibilities, he added.