Lack of dedicated funds for trade promotion activities at Pakistani embassies impedes enhancement trade with different countries. PHOTO: FILE
KARACHI: Lack of dedicated funds stops Pakistani embassies abroad from going for promotion and marketing of the country’s goods and services as they get a limited amount to meet administrative expenses only, says Pakistan’s Ambassador-designate to Indonesia Attiya Mahmood.
Speaking at a meeting with businessmen at the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Mahmood said the embassies could only facilitate those promotional activities that were either financed by the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan or events and exhibitions organised by trade associations.
“Lack of dedicated funds for trade promotion activities at Pakistani embassies acts as one of the key hurdles in the way of enhancing trade with different countries,” she remarked.
Highlighting her planned activities in Indonesia, she said all possible facilities and assistance would be provided to the Pakistani businessmen willing to expand trade with their Indonesian counterparts.
She stressed that the embassy would be playing its role in dispute resolution by taking up issues being faced by the Pakistani business community with local authorities in Indonesia.
She called for enhancing person-to-person and business-to-business interaction between the two countries with a view to maximising bilateral trade.
During recent visit of a KCCI delegation to Indonesia, Chamber President Abdullah Zaki signed a memorandum of understanding with the Jakarta Chamber of Commerce for setting up a joint chamber, which would open new avenues for business communities of both sides.
Responding to concerns over weakening bilateral trade over the past few years, particularly after signing of the Preferential Trade Agreement, Mahmood asked the KCCI’s research cell to identify the causes of the decline and present them to the embassy so that these could be addressed.
Earlier, Zaki briefed the ambassador about the KCCI’s efforts aimed at enhancing trade by undertaking different initiatives and entering into joint ventures with the Indonesian counterparts.
“We have witnessed overwhelming participation of Indonesian businessmen and exhibitors in the KCCI’s ‘My Karachi – Oasis of Harmony’ exhibition every year due to the support extended by the Indonesian embassy and the consulate general of Indonesia,” he said.
In a bid to step up bilateral trade, Zaki asked the ambassador to help the KCCI in setting up a display centre of Pakistani goods and services in Indonesia, which would enable Indonesian businessmen to take a close look at the high-quality goods being manufactured in Pakistan.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 7th, 2014.
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Focusing on trade makes sense but when you stop and think about it what do you manufacture that others need? Outside of textiles you don't make much that anybody wants and textiles don't need embassy sponsored trade shows. You need to diversify your mfg base - that requires foreign investment which requires you to make Pakistan a safe place to live and do business.
Almost all, with the exception of a very few, of our missions abroad do not do the work they are meant to. Instead they function as PR offices for the benefit of our so called VIP's.
This is where NS should put Development Funds for best use, all other places are secondary. He needs foreign funds above all for even local developments.