LAHORE, Aug 23: The Indian Synthetic and Rayon Textiles Export Promotion Council (SRTEPC) has urged the Pakistani textile producers to import man-made fibre for their products from India.

"We can supply you best quality man-made fibre, raw materials for your products, at cheaper rates," said the head of the 10-member Indian delegation, Prem Malik, while speaking to the knitwear and hosiery manufacturers here on Monday.

He was welcomed by Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers Association (PHMA-North Zone) chairman Amjad Khawaja and former PHMA chairman and member of the Quota Supervisory Committee Shahzad Azam Khan.

Mr Malik said India could supply quality synthetic yarn, viscose filament, chemicals, dyes and other raw materials to the Pakistani textile industry. However, he pointed out that all these items except viscose were on the negative list which barred the Indian companies from exporting them directly to their Pakistani customers.

"We urge you to use your good offices to bring home to your government to remove these items from the negative list of trade. It will benefit you as you will get cheaper and quality raw materials for your products," he said.

He also said the Indian companies were ready to collaborate with Pakistani businessmen in order to compete with the Western companies in the post-WTO era. He said it was necessary because after abolition of textile quotas, the pressure would be brought by the importing nations on the textile producing countries to reduce their prices.

Besides, he said, the joint collaboration and free trade within the Saarc region would create a huge "local" market for the textile producers which would help them ease the pressure exerted by the Western buyers on them to bring down their prices.

Mr Malik stressed the need for improving trade relations between the two countries as the WTO challenges were same for both the nations. He invited the Pakistani exporters to explore the Indian markets for mutually beneficial projects for sustained trade in future.

He said the improved exchange of delegations between the businessmen of the two countries indicated the tremendous scope for collaboration in the business and trade.

Speaking about the Indian textile sector, Mr Malik said the Indian textile exports were $15 billion and were expected to rise to $40 billion by 2010. The size of Indian textile sector is $30 billion which would grow to $85 billion by 2010. He was hopeful that Pakistan could boost its exports by exploring the Indian market.