No GSP Plus without ratification of HR accord

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has to ratify the human rights agreement, which is one of the basic conditions for getting the GSP (Generalised System of Preferences) Plus facility, said Hans Christian Kint, Ambassador of Belgium to Pakistan.

Speaking to the business community at the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), he however said Belgium fully supports Pakistan in having the European Union’s GSP Plus facility.

He said the EU has decided to maintain the status quo of GSP Plus till 2014 and thus Pakistan has no chance of getting this facility before that period.

He said to change the rules of GSP Plus, approval of 27 EU member countries and EU parliament is needed, which is a tough process.

“GSP Plus facility for Sri Lanka has also been suspended for the time being due to non-implementation of the human rights agreement,” he added.

The Belgian ambassador said that the EU is the biggest and Belgium the sixth largest trading partner of Pakistan. He said that every year, several businessmen of Pakistan are invited to Belgium for business-to-business meetings.

Published in the Express Tribune, June 5^th, 2010.