CARACHI:
The business community has called on the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) to address shortcomings in trade diplomacy with Pakistan’s trading partners to facilitate exporters.
Pakistan Businesses Forum (PBF) Vice-Chairman Ahmad Jawad said TDAP should come up with a clear trade promotion policy that could serve
exporters.
“The country’s export base is changing,” he said, adding that TDAP should focus on the domestic market and supply chain, instead of spending on overseas trips. foreign.
“Export promotion with limited budgets does not help, especially in the IT, industrial and service sectors,” commented Ahsan Mehanti, CEO of Arif Habib Commodities, in an interview. with The Express Tribune.
Jawad stressed that the focus should be on commercial diplomacy with trading partners keeping in mind Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and Preferential Trade Agreements (PTAs).
“TDAP should develop and promote exports holistically, through focus, synergy, collective wisdom and stakeholder consultation,” he said.
Highlighting the role of TDAP, Arif Habib Limited’s Director of Research Tahir Abbas said the organization should provide a broader view and analyze developments in global trade. “It should promote exports and identify key areas where Pakistan can diversify its exports.”
Jawad highlighted the need to analyze the export-oriented supply chain, domestic and global trade and political dynamics, costs and the ease of doing business.
One of the main shortcomings of Pakistani exports is the lack of effort of trade advisers in foreign missions.
Their role is to promote and facilitate Pakistani products and businesses. Unfortunately, they lack the necessary credentials to meet exporters’ expectations, the businessmen said.
There is a need to audit the entire export chain and process, identify gaps and initiate measures to achieve sustainable export growth from Pakistan, they added.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 7e2022.
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