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Bright prospects for export of Pak products in African market

RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: The Chairman of All Pakistan Textile Processing Mills Association (APTPMA) G. R. Arshad said that there are bright prospects for export of Pakistani rice, textile fabrics, garments, glassware, textile chemicals, cutlery, matches, sports goods and surgical instruments in the overall African market.

On his return from a visit to Kenya, Mauritius and South Africa as head of an Export Promotion Bureau sponsored delegation, he said that the host countries gave a warm reception to the Pakistani delegation and performance of Pakistani commercial consulates in these countries was quite commendable.

He said that these countries could not only serve as a gateway for promotion of multi-lateral trade for the overall African market but could also act as stepping stone for export of our traditional and non traditional items to the EU and the USA.

Arshad pointed out that the visit of the Pakistani delegation which comprised renowned Pakistani exporters was unique in the sense that it proved to be an eye opener.

Elaborating his point, he said that apparently Pakistan's total annual exports to these countries was a bare minimum of 80 million dollars while our imports mainly consisted of Kenyan tea, worth about 196 million dollars, which was not even a fraction of their total import and export from the world sources.

In Kenya, the Pakistani delegation held a meeting with President, Nairobi National Chamber of Commerce and Industry Kasim Awango who told them that there was tremendous demand for Pakistani rice in Kenya. The delegation proposed setting up of joint venture in Pakistan for the plantation, processing and packaging of Kenyan tea and re-export the same.

During the delegation's stay in Mauritius, its Export Processing Zone Association proposed a memorandum of understanding with Pakistan whereby Pakistani textile products and other value added items might get certificate of origin from the government of Mauritius after reasonable value addition which would make these goods eligible for export to EU and USA.

In South Africa, Pakistan's Trade Commission in Johannesburg organised a session on business opportunities with Pakistan. It was attended among others by consultants from amalgamated banks of South Africa and Director Asia Department of Trade and Industry. A display of Pakistani textile and general products was organised at Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry which was followed by meetings between businessmen of the two countries.