ISLAMABAD, Jan 12: The United Kingdom will support Pakistan in getting access to the market of the European Union member countries under the new generalized system of preferences (GSP) plus scheme (zero rate of duty) to be effective from January 2006.

Briefing newsmen at British High Commission here on Wednesday about his visit to Pakistan, UK Foreign Office Minister for Trade Douglas Alexander said the UK had been sympathetic to the case of Pakistan on getting access to the GSP plus scheme.

"The issue of Pakistani access to EU market under new GSP plus scheme arrangement was discussed with all my interlocutors. I explained that while the UK was supportive this was a matter on which there needed to be an agreement by all member states. I welcomed the Pakistani prime minister planned visit to Brussels. We agreed to remain in close touch on this issue", he remarked.

He said that in the last three years our bilateral trade had grown by over 20 per cent. The UK was the second largest overseas investor in Pakistan, the fifth largest trading partner among OECD countries and presently there were some 77 British companies operating in Pakistan.

When asked that no tangible growth was registered in the UK investment in Pakistan during the last two years, the minister said that the investment could only be carried by the individuals who would decide it on their own.

He said that UK regularly heard complaints about the constraints that our travel advice put on business in Pakistan. Security and successful business go hand in hand. "Our duty to our citizens is to ensure that our travel advice reflects the best information we have at the time", he added.

The minister said the G-20 countries - of which Pakistan was an important member - played a key role in securing last summer's agreement to begin the process towards dismantling agriculture subsidies.

As president of the G-8 and EU this year, the UK would work hard to ensure that we made further progress to achieve the development round for which we have been working.

Replying another question, Mr Douglas said that the UK was ready to provide technical assistance to Pakistan in building its capacity for negotiating various issues under the WTO regime.

He said that the July framework would provide a forum for reduction in domestic subsidies. He added that the issue of sugar subsidy in EU was currently under discussion.

Meanwhile, in a meeting with Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar, the British minister expressed his complete understanding on the need to provide best possible market access terms for Pakistan in the EU. Mr Khan requested the UK minister to continue support for Pakistan in getting better market access for Pakistan export products in the new GSP scheme.