KARACHI, Aug 31: The Pakistan Leather Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PLGMEA) on Wednesday requested the ministry of commerce to reconstitute its Export Marketing Development Fund (EMDF) board on a similar pattern to the Export Development Fund (EDF) board.

At present the EMDF board is comprised of only government officials and a representative of the FPCCI is included in it. The EMDF board subsidizes export marketing activities, including international information collection and dissemination, development of Pakistani products, development of foreign markets through advertisements, exhibitions, delegations, etc.

PLGMEA President Fawad Ijaz Khan said the EMDF board should include more representatives from exporters’ associations similar to the EDF board. “This will increase effectiveness of export marketing activities.”

Mr Khan said the EDF board was a good forum where exporters’ associations presented their proposals for the development of human resources, product upgradation, development of training institutes, etc. Chairmen of major exporters’ associations were members of the EDF board and all decisions were taken with the consent of the members, he noted.

The PLGMEA chief said the inclusion of representatives from prominent associations in the EMDF board would increase the effectiveness of export marketing being carried out by the government. “Exporters are major stakeholders in these marketing activities and their input will be instrumental in boosting exports,” he added.