Ministry plans new trade missions

Senators discuss bureaucratic delays; addressing trade deficits

ISLAMABAD:

A Senate panel was told on Wednesday that the Ministry of Commerce is planning to establish new trade missions in a number of countries to explore new avenues of trade.

Briefing the Senate Standing Committee on Commerce, the Ministry of Commerce in-charge secretary said the ministry is set to open new missions in Syria, Oman, Mozambique, and Tanzania.

“Additionally, there are considerations for new missions in Singapore and Urumqi. Currently, trade missions are already established in Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Vietnam, and Kyrgyzstan,” he said.

The committee chairperson, Senator Anusha Rehman, said the ministry initiated the $12 billion “Look Africa” initiative in 2017. It will be reviewed in upcoming meetings to understand why barter trade with neighboring countries is not happening, she added.

The secretary in-charge told the committee that Pakistan has established a barter trade framework with Iran and Russia. “The legal framework has been shared with both countries. We are currently waiting for the Russian delegation, and discussions will commence upon their arrival,” he said.

Senator Rehman remarked that the system is slow, noting that discussions have been ongoing for three years without progress. She said when work stalls, it is often blamed on bureaucracy. “There is a fear that something bad might happen, which subsequently prevents even the good things from happening.”

In the Senate Standing Committee on Commerce, the discussion also touched on donkey hides and meat. Officials from the Ministry of Commerce stated that discussions are underway with China regarding the export of donkey meat.

They said there is no restriction on exporting donkeys to China. Anyone interested in exporting donkeys can do so. Donkey farming has also started in Pakistan. China has a large market for donkey meat and related products.

Officials from the Ministry of Commerce stated that a transit trade agreement with Azerbaijan will be finalized this month. Under the agreement, 500 trucks will be able to transit daily through the National Logistic Corps (NLC). Traders from Kazakhstan will now be able to clear their goods at Karachi Port.

They told the committee members that the trade deficit with China is not decreasing. New tariff lines are being considered to reduce the trade deficit.

There have been discussions about increasing the number of trade officers in China, and we have also suggested the inclusion of support officers, they added. Rehman directed the relevant official to arrange a Zoom meeting with commercial officers in the next session.