Pakistan reaps benefit from Look Africa Policy, after significant rise in exports

• Pakistan’s exports to Africa have increased by 10 percent from July 2019 to 21st April 2020, as compared to the same period last year.
• Pakistan's exports of clothing to Africa jumped from $4mn to $50mn.

Pakistan’s Look Africa Policy seems to be bearing fruit after the country exports to the continent showed an impressive increase despite the economic uncertainty due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“Even in these testing times Pakistan’s exports to Africa have increased by 10 percent from July 2019 to 21st April 2020, as compared to the same period last year,” informed Adviser to Prime Minister of Pakistan for Commerce and Investment Abdul Razak Dawood on Friday, on his Twitter handle.

The advisor commended his team at the Ministry of Commerce for the Look Africa Policy Initiative under which rice exports have increased 20pc, from $500 million to $600mn, the exports of tractors rose from a meager $9mn to $15mn.

Pakistan's exports of clothing to Africa jumped from $4mn to $50mn, whereas, Pakistan’s bed linen exports to Africa also rose from $30mn to $36mn.

Just months ago, Pakistan launched the Look Africa Policy with the aim to double its trade volume with the continent in the next 5 years.

Under the policy, Pakistan opened six new trade wings at its embassies in Africa which include Algeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Senegal, Sudan, and Tanzania.