GSP Plus: KCCI asks for EU’s help in taking advantage

Says assistance to exporters would increase foreign exchange earnings.

KARACHI: Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) President Iftikhar Ahmed Vohra has asked the European Union (EU) countries to assist Pakistan in improving its infrastructure in order to move towards a conducive business environment.

This would help Pakistani exporters who are keen to raise their exports to the EU, particularly after the GSP Plus status, added the KCCI chief.

He said that in the current scenario, shortage of gas, power and water have crippled production activities across Pakistan. Availability of energy is imperative for the enhancement of exports in the light of GSP Plus.



“Pakistan may not succeed in fully benefitting from the EU’s GSP Plus if Pakistani exporters continue to suffer problems pertaining to infrastructure and energy crisis,” KCCI president said.

He said this at a workshop on “EU’s GSP plus scheme - market entry procedures to the EU”, organised by the International Trade Center in association with KCCI and Pakistan Institute of Trade and Development (PITAD).

“The government must devise a strict strategy to provide a secure business environment, particularly for exporters who have the potential to gain valuable foreign exchange for the country,” Vohra said.

Emphasising the need to focus on value-addition, Vohra pointed out that despite being the world’s fourth largest producer of cotton, the country has not been able to convert its local produce into value-added products.

He said that Pakistan only manages $1.29 billion per million bales through value-addition whereas its India gets $1.79 billion, Bangladesh $6.6 billion and Korea more than $10 billion.

International Trade Center Programme Officer Muhammad Owais Khan, while highlighting the purpose of the training session, said that it would help better understand the benefits of the GSP Plus status.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 11^th, 2014.

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