SIALKOT, Nov 28: The World Bank Mission has offered technical assistance and guidance to the Sialkot-based business community for upgrading and modernising surgical and sports goods industries, with a view to make them globally competitive.

At separate meetings arranged by the Pakistan Sports Goods Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PSGMEA) and Surgical Instruments Manufacturers Association (SIMA), here on Tuesday, the WB officials Mr Yau De Piyau and Mr Muhammad Salleh Bin Buyong said these industries were in a dire need of early up-gradation to compete in the world markets under the WTO regime.

They said these industries could be given a boost through export of diversified traditional to non-traditional products and up-gradation by training workers in advanced skills.

The officials said in the changed global trade scenario, the WB would provide all the technical assistance and guidance needed by Sialkot business community, besides providing vocational and technical training to local industrial workers on a priority basis through active collaboration with the government and opulent entrepreneurs.

Giving a detailed briefing to the visiting team, PSGMEA Chairman Prof Sheikh Safdar Sandal said the local soccer ball industry had recently come across a big challenge with the introduction of thermosolded inflatable mechanized football, which is posing a great threat to the hand-stitched ball industry in the city which provides world’s 85 per cent balls.

He said under these circumstances the need for vocational and technical education coupled with training facilities was becoming urgent.

He said with the WTO quota-free regime, the exporting giants of South Asia namely China, India and Pakistan were getting fresh opportunities, besides facing new challenges in the shape of tougher global competition.

Undoubtedly, the Pakistani exporters would also be facing the worst form of competition in the near future, he added.

He said the local exporters were conscious of the machine-made balls getting popular in some international markets, especially due to their low prices. As there was a dearth of machine-made ball industry, the local manufacturers badly needed technical help and guidance to compete in the world market, he said, urging the WB to come forward to save local industry from collapse.

Meanwhile, at a briefing, SIMA office-bearers informed the WB officials that the city exported surgical instruments to the tune of US$ 160 million during 2005-06.

They said through the provision of hands-on training to the workforce, the local surgical industry could be improved a lot, which could help ensure more foreign exchange for the country’s economical stability.

VISITS: The WB officials also visited various leading industrial units in the city amid tight security.