Netherlands agency to train exporters

Will support engineering industry to gain access to EU market.

ISLAMABAD: An import promotion agency of the Netherlands will lend its support to the engineering industry of Pakistan in different fields, particularly training of exporters, a move that will help develop the industry and provide access to European markets.

In this connection, a partnership agreement was signed at the Engineering Development Board here on Wednesday between the Centre for Promotion of Imports from Developing Countries (CBI), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Netherlands and the EDB.

Netherlands Ambassador to Pakistan Hugo Gajus Scheltema and EDB Chief Executive Officer Qazi Ebadullah Khan inked the agreement.

According to the terms of agreement, CBI and EDB will collaborate in areas of mutual interest like access to European Union market information database along with participation in export coaching programmes, entry into EU market and institutional development activities.

EDB, as a business support organisation, is playing the role of a bridge between the government and private sector of the country. CBI is operating in 48 countries in 25 sectors and the common mission of the two organisations is to contribute to trade-led development by strengthening competitiveness of engineering companies of Pakistan and preparing them for exports to the EU market.

The partnership will contribute to economic prosperity through direct support to exports from private and public sectors and their intermediate support organisations.

Terming the deal a landmark achievement in relations between Pakistan and the Netherlands, Ambassador Hugo Gajus Scheltema said CBI activities in Pakistan had intensified since 2008 and covered sectors as diverse as tourism, sportswear, medical devices, fresh fruits and vegetables, etc.

“Our selected companies follow a multi-annual coaching trajectory, after which they are ready to export to developed markets,” he said. “CBI maintains a database of trusted companies that have completed the programme. At present, there are 65 Pakistani companies in this database.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 30^th, 2013.

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