August 29, 2007	Wednesday	Sha’aban 15, 1428

ISLAMABAD, Aug 28: Ambassador of European Commission delegation to Pakistan Jan De Kok said here on Tuesday that EC-funded project would help Pakistani exporters reduce their cost of doing business.

Speaking at a seminar on developing Pakistan’s trade capacity under the EC-Pakistan trade-related technical assistance programme (TRTA), he said that the programme had made a positive contribution in developing Pakistan’s trade capacity.

Exporters would now be able to send their products for testing to local laboratories that are in the process of accreditations, he added.

He said at the same time authorities in the EU would now have more confidence in the results of tests made in Pakistani laboratories.

Mr Kok said the TRTA programme would allow Pakistan to better defend its position in the WTO because its government officials have now been trained to better understand rules and functions of the WTO.

He said in view of success achieved under the ongoing TRTA, the EC is now looking forward to funding another TRTA.

The programe was aimed at assisting Pakistan in its integration with world economy facilitating its engagement with the multilateral trading system and ultimately contributing to poverty-alleviation.

The programe also helped enhance awareness among government officials, the business sector and civil society about the implication of WTO agreements on the economy of the country.