Islamabad : Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) would facilitate the exporters in promoting exports, however, exporters would have to be more proactive in exploring new markets for making significant increase in the country’s exports. The exporters should approach the concerned regional offices of TDAP to inform them about their problems so that TDAP could make efforts to address them. This was said by Arif Ahmed Khan, Chief Executive, TDAP during an online meeting with Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI). Shahzad Ahmed Khan, Director General, TDAP Islamabad was also attending the meeting.CE, TDAP said that more research officers would be hired to develop study research reports for exporters. He said that TDAP was conducting training programs for exporters in collaboration with the Institute of Business Administration at Karachi and soon such training programs would also be started at Lahore and Islamabad. He said that organizing trade delegations for foreign countries was the core activity of TDAP, but due to Covid-19 pandemic, this activity was suspended for the last one year. However, he assured that TDAP would also facilitate ICCI business delegations in making their visits successful. He asked the DG TDAP Islamabad to work in cooperation with ICCI for facilitating the exporters of the region.
Speaking at the occasion, Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) said that promoting exports for Pakistan was of vital importance to improve its economy and emphasized that TDAP should extend all possible support to exporters in enhancing the country’s exports. He said that Bangladesh’s exports had crossed USD 40 billion in 2019, but Pakistan’s annual exports were still struggling around USD 22-23 billion despite the fact that our country has huge potential to enhance exports. He said that cooperation of TDAP with the private sector could play an effective role for increasing the total volume of our exports.
ICCI President said that TDAP should include Presidents of all Chambers in its trade delegations for foreign countries so that they could explore exports opportunities for their member companies in foreign markets. He said that TDAP should develop strong liaison with Chambers to share trade related information on a regular basis. He said that TDAP in collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce should also pass on market study reports to all chambers in Pakistan so that the private sector could capitalize on all potential markets for exports promotion. He said that TDAP should hold exports related training and capacity building programs in collaboration with ICCI for exporters of this region. He discussed participation of ICCI member companies in online international expos arranged by TDAP. He also shared his ideas with CE TDAP on the possibility of increasing exports through online channels and resolving payment issues of online exporters. Prospects of increasing IT exports and exports of other emerging sectors also came under discussion. Both sides agreed to maintain liaison with each to focus on products and market diversification that would help in boosting Pakistan’s overall exports.