Pakistan will adhere to timelines agreed with EU on GSP+

Pakistan will adhere to the timelines agreed with the European Union in relation to the Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) Plus scheme, despite the difficulties caused by Covid-19, said Adviser to Prime Minister on Commerce and Investment Abdul Razak Dawood.

During a meeting with Ambassador of the European Union to Pakistan Androulla Kaminara, the adviser emphasised that implementation of 27 conventions were important for Pakistan for long-term national and social benefits.

The meeting was held to discuss various matters regarding GSP+ and different avenues of cooperation between Pakistan and the EU, particularly for the development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), promotion of culture and tourism industry.

The ambassador discussed various ideas for providing support to freelancers in the IT sector, handicrafts and tourism, with particular focus on creating linkages within the European Union to open new markets for products and services.

Shedding light on possibilities of future cooperation, Dawood said there was a lot of potential for the locals in northern areas to expand the tourism infrastructure. 

He endorsed the idea of promotion of the IT sector, which had been posting good growth and was being promoted by the government under the e-commerce policy.

The adviser underlined the need for building a closer relationship with EU markets. However, it would require more brainstorming as both sides agreed to hold a separate meeting in that regard.

Speaking on the occasion, the commerce secretary apprised the ambassador of various developments and reiterated the resolve of Pakistan’s government to meet the commitments made with the EU.

He appreciated suggestions for further cooperation and pointed out that a lot of emphasis had already been put on the development of SMEs, under the “Pakistan Goes Global” project as well as the Strategic Trade Policy Framework 2020-25.