November 29, 2007	Thursday	Ziqa’ad 18, 1428

KARACHI, Nov 28: The WTO Cell of the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) has held discussions with businessmen at the Federation House to collect the input on irritants, non-tariff and hidden barriers in the way of Pakistan’s exports to China.

The cell presented its preliminary report prepared in view of Pak-China FTA signed in July 2007 to Pakistan China Business Council at the meeting.

The report included data on existing and indicative export potential of Pakistani products to the huge Chinese market.

Mujeeb Khan of the cell while giving a brief on the inception of the cell and its operations said that the WTO cell had been established in the TDAP to ensure better communications between the public and the private sector and to assist in getting better market access for them through research and information about the WTO rules.

Former chairman Pak-China Business Council Mazhar Ali Nasir emphasised the need for focussing more on strength of existing Pakistani products such as textiles, leather and seafood, rather than pursuing new ones for boosting exports to China.

He also suggested that the TDAP should focus on area specific and single product exhibitions in China to penetrate into that market.

The participants agreed that the product specific meetings will be organised between the cell and the FPCCI to have better understanding of the underlying issues in Pak-China trade. —APP