Preferential trade: Turkey ready to sign PTA, blames Pakistan for delay

Accord will grant concessions on export of goods to Turkey

KARACHI:

Turkey has expressed its willingness to sign the much-awaited preferential trade agreement (PTA) with Pakistan as it has no outstanding issue to settle but the accord is being delayed by Islamabad.

Commercial Attaché at the Consulate General of Turkey in Karachi, Murat Mustu, stated this while speaking at the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) on Wednesday.

Mustu said the PTA would provide concessions on a number of goods to Pakistan’s exporters, who would have the advantage to smoothly penetrate into the Turkish market.

Commenting on Pakistan-Turkey ties, he stressed that both the countries had been continuing to enjoy strong and friendly relations for decades and had been supporting each other during difficult times.

“It is the desire of the Turkish government to strengthen trade ties with Pakistan. We must make efforts to increase the trade volume and investments in both countries,” he added.

He highlighted various sectors in which business communities of the two countries could enter into joint ventures. Among these, Pakistan’s livestock sector had the potential to considerably increase exports to Turkey as its meat was more delicious and cheaper than the Turkish product, he said.

“Through collective efforts, we can certainly raise the existing trade volume to new heights.”

He announced that a three-member Turkish delegation would visit the KCCI on August 13 to brief the businessmen about the 15th Musiad International Fair and 18th International Business Forum Conference, which would be organised in Istanbul from November 26 to 30 this year.

Besides Karachi, the delegation will also make a trip to Lahore and Islamabad in order to seek advice on how to contribute to the development of bilateral trade.

Another two-member Turkish delegation will arrive soon to ensure participation of Pakistan’s businessmen in the Istanbul Jewellery Show, scheduled to be held from October 16 to 19. KCCI President Abdullah Zaki underscored the need for a fast-track signing of the PTA between Pakistan and Turkey. “It is high time to ink this important agreement, which will substantially improve the trade volume.”

KCCI’s Diplomatic Affairs Sub-committee Chairman Abdul Jabbar pointed out that the Turkish government had imposed anti-dumping duty on textile products in July 2011, which terribly affected Pakistan’s exports.

He sought the diplomat’s help in persuading his government to abolish the duty and help improve Pakistan’s textile exports.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 7^th, 2014.

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