EC approves €9.5m for trade issues

The European Commission approves funding for second phase of Trade-related Technical Assistance (TRTA-II) programme.

ISLAMABAD: The European Commission has approved funding of €9.5 million in collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (Unido), of which €500,000 will be used for the second phase of Trade-related Technical Assistance (TRTA-II) programme. At a workshop held by the ministry of commerce in association with the European Union (EU) here on Tuesday, Jan De Kok, head of a European Union delegation to Pakistan, said that the duration of the programme will be 54 months.

Pakistan will be provided support in building the necessary capacity to address trade-related issues, fostering its integration into the world economy, he said.

Jeon Sebastien Rowre, adviser on legal aspects of trade, said that government officers of the trade and commerce group would be imparted necessary training in trade policy by international institutions and for this purpose 2 to 3 weeks short courses would be arranged.

Khawaja Muhammad Yusuf, Chief Executive Officer of National Productivity Organisation (NPO), said that the fisheries sector has a great potential for exports and to make the sector more active in the international market, 1,000 fishermen would be given training by international trainers.

TRTA-II targets support for trade policy development, support to priority sectors with high export potential such as horticulture, fisheries and selected industrial products such as fans, surgical instruments, cutlery and sports goods. It includes sector support to increase productivity and value addition as well as strengthening of intellectual property rights.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 29^th, 2010.