The Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) has urged the government to adopt a 15-year export plan to offer the national industry a long-term direction for increasing exports. According to acting ICCI president Faad Waheed, the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP)’s trade officers should routinely exchange market study results with ICCI so that the business community can take advantage of possible trade and export prospects in international markets.

He was talking to TDAP Director General Muhammad Naseer, who called on him at the ICCI. According to Faad Waheed, many members of the ICCI from a variety of industries, such as pharmaceuticals, information technology, light engineering, and food products like rice, fruits, vegetables, and meat, as well as marble, cement, textiles, pipes, and furniture, export their products to many nations. In order to investigate new opportunities for export promotion, the TDAP should include exporters in its overseas delegations, he added.

He said that while ICCI and TDAP are working toward the same objective - improving Pakistan’s trade and exports - close coordination between the two is crucial to efficiently achieving these aims. In his remarks, TDAP Director General Muhammad Naseer promised that he would make an effort to solve the problems highlighted by the ICCI members to assist them in developing trade and exports.

He said that although the European Union and the United States are Pakistan’s two main export markets, recessionary patterns in both areas are producing a decline in Pakistan’s exports. Businesses should concentrate on non-traditional markets, including those in Africa, Central Asia, and the ASEAN region, since they have enormous export potential, he added.

In order to enhance the economy, Muhammad Naseer stated that TDAP will work with ICCI to explore new export markets. Considering Pakistan’s strong potential to expand trade with Iran, Afghanistan, and other regional nations, he suggested that the business sector pay close attention to regional trade.

According to him, TDAP is preparing to host an expo for female entrepreneurs in Islamabad in March that would provide them with a wonderful opportunity to manage exports. He gave the ICCI his word that TDAP Islamabad will host awareness campaigns for the benefit of exporters and importers.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk