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Govt to help non-quota textile exports

FAISALABAD: The government is making serious efforts to remove impediments and give a quantum jump to the non-quota textile exports particularly from up-country, said Sh Mohammed Khalid Habib, President, Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI).

Addressing a one-day seminar on 'Non-quota textiles' organised by the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) in collaboration with the FCCI here on Thursday, he explained the factors hampering exports from Pakistan, and said: "While international factors are beyond our control, procedural implications can be stream-lined to catalyse exports from the country".

Stressing the need for cost effective exportable surplus, he said that exporters should also make concerted efforts to improve the quality of their products. "Exporters should adopt aggressive marketing to sneak into the non-traditional markets also", he exhorted.

The FCCI president said that EPB should set up an information cell in its office to provide up-to-date information to Pakistani exporters. He also supported the idea of including small exporters into foreign delegations and said that it should not only provide them an opportunity to get first hand knowledge of foreign markets but also help them in introducing their products in international markets.

Mukhtar Ahmed, former president, All Pakistan Cloth Exporters Association (APCEA) and member Quota Supervisory Council (QSC), said that QSC was established in 1998 for the allotment of quota on first-come-first-served basis. He said the government had provided Rs 10 million to further improve this system, while Rs 8 million had also been provided to various affiliated associations.

He also said that a website will be created for internet-users to provide exporters up-to-date information about quota utilisation on daily basis.

Comparing Pakistan with Bangladesh, he said Bangladesh was ranking third in garment exports but now it is on top of the list. He said that Pakistan has only four percent quota of garments as compared to Bangladesh.

Amir Jan, Director, EPB Karachi, said that 60 percent of country's exports comprise non-quota items, while the quota will be totally abolished in 2004.

A large number of manufacturers and exporters attended the seminar.ÑAPP