$20 billion export target to be achieved before June: Puri

The Chief Executive of Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), Tariq Iqbal Puri, said on Saturday that exports target of $20 billion for the fiscal year 2010-11 would be achieved before June despite significant energy shortage during winter.
Addressing a press conference here at the building of National Insurance Company Limited (NICL), he gave an overall picture of exports trend, future plans, new initiatives and TDAP's current status. Puri is also acting Chairman of NICL and is currently engaged in dealing with the aftermath of the Rs 5 billion real estate scam that implicated his predecessor, Ayaz Khan Niazi.
"If the current trend of exports continues, despite energy issues, we will exceed the target of $20 billion mark," he said. He said that Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has declared financial year 2010-11 as 'Export Year', and Commerce Ministry/TDAP are chalking out a programme which would be submitted to the Cabinet. China will be the focus of the Export Year, he added.
He said: "In 2003, when we crossed $10 billion export mark, we had organised an event to recognise the top exporters, and this year we are planning a similar event as the government will give special attention to exports." In December 2010, Pakistan exports exceeded $2.12 billion mark, depicting an increase of 35 percent over the corresponding month of last year.
According to the plan, the Commerce Ministry intends to bring the stakeholders of public sector and private sector onto one table to devise a 'joint integrated strategy' for future. He said that the Commerce Ministry also wants to make an effective strategy by removing bottlenecks.
"If we focus on China, whose middle income earning population is improving its living standard, we can sell our value-added products to them. As we are celebrating 2010-11 as China Friendship Year we want to exploit it for improvement in business with China," he said.
Tariq said that China is also using non-tariff barriers as an instrument to discourage Pakistan's exports despite a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and the government is taking this issue very seriously. For instance, China accuses Pakistani exporters of using substandard chemicals in manufacturing of goods which, he said, is unfair.
Regarding restructuring of TDAP, Puri said that no further restructuring would take place in the organisation. However, he explained that he intends to bring 'good' minds to the organisation from the private sector who would work with the good officers of the TDAP to increase the country's exports. He said that TDAP's Ordinance would become Act of Parliament and all actions being taken during the lapsed Ordinance would be legalised.
About impact of law and order on economic activity, he said that people have reservations about the country's security situation, "but business is still going on as usual". He said that appreciation of dollar and depreciation of rupee is always a component of the government's strategy as its adjustment with market forces is necessary.
Tariq also opposed withdrawal of zero rating from the five sectors under the proposed 'reformed general sales tax' (RGST) which is still unimplemented. He clarified that Expo 2010 would he held as per schedule, and focal persons have been nominated from every association.