At present, Pakistan exports just $50 million worth of textile products to Japan, mostly raw material.
These issues came up for discussion in a meeting between officials of JICA and Trade Development Authority of Pakistan at TDAP head office here on Tuesday. TDAP consultant Yuji Aoki was also present.
The Japanese experts are visiting Pakistan for a three-day workshop to impart knowledge about Japanese standards to Pakistani exporters.
They said Japan imported $35 billion of textile products from China while other Asian countries, like Bangladesh, were also fast stepping up their exports.
China, India, Bangladesh and Pakistan are all major textile exporting countries of the world. All four are also major competitors in various markets.
While Pakistan mostly exports textile raw material, Bangladesh has been endeavouring to increase export of value-added textile products to Japan.
According to the Export Promotion Bureau of Bangladesh, export of Bangladeshi woven garments and knitwear to Japan grew nearly 43% to $247.51 million in 2010-11. The figure is five times more than Pakistan’s textile export to Japan.
The experts pointed out that Bangladeshi exporters were acquiring export certificates for streamlining supply of their textile produce to Japan. On the contrary, very few Pakistani firms are aware of Japanese standards.
For the workshop, TDAP has invited experts of Japan’s textile product quality and technology centre called upon QTEC to train Pakistani exporters. About 30 big exporters of the country are participating in the workshop.
The Japanese experts have come here after visiting Bangladesh.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 7th, 2012.
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