Govt urged to conduct public-private dialogue on trade policy

KARACHI: A comprehensive public-private dialogue must be initiated by the Ministry of Commerce before announcing the upcoming three-year trade policy, Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) Chairman on Horticulture & Agriculture Produce, Ahmad Jawad said on Thursday.
The chairman said public-private dialogue creates a foundation for market-friendly policies that deepen economic reform and enhance national competitiveness. “Due to the past policies of the ministry, horticulture exports are almost on the verge of destruction and if government doesn’t announce any incentives for the exporting sector in the upcoming trade policy this sector would start protests,” he added.
He blamed the wrong policies of the policy makers, because of which Pakistani horticulture sector was not able to compete in the international markets.
He called upon the government to come forward and cooperate with private sector in product and market diversification and value addition of exportable products to realise the country’s actual export potential.
Jawad said one of the main reasons Pakistan is missing targets is because the export base is quite narrow and concentrated, adding that Pakistan only exports few value added products that include cotton and cotton manufactures, leather products, rice, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and sports goods.
“The local exports can achieve much higher earnings by focusing on product and market diversification and value addition especially in the agriculture sector,” he said, “The government should facilitate private sector in diversifying export base and adding value to exportable products.”
The chairman said Pakistan has great potential to promote exports of many other products including marble & granite, engineering goods, IT products, fruits & vegetables, halal meat, dairy products, value added textiles and others. There is an urgent need to focus on non-traditional markets including Central Asia, Africa, ASEAN and other emerging markets which offer plenty of opportunities for promoting exports of value added products.
It has been recalled that the Ministry of Commerce will announce three-year trade policy of the country soon with an aim to enhance the export target for the current fiscal year up to $30 billion. The ministry has also set an export target of $35 billion for 2016-17 and $40 billion for 2017-18.