KARACHI: President FPCCI Zakaria Usman on Thursday emphasized on making very organised and scientific efforts for developing brands, and promoting and modernizing packaging industry, promoting Halal foods besides enhancing ambit of value- addition to get better prices for Pakistani products.
He offered full support of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) to Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) to start concrete initiatives/projects to accomplish the above very important tasks which will give boost to Pakistan's exports.
"We are prepared to work with TDAP if it comes up exclusive desks for developing brands and promoting packaging industry," FPCCI President assured TDAP's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) S.M. Muneer during his visit to the Federation House (FPCCI Headquarters) here. TDAP Chief was accompanied by a team of his senior officers.
Prominent on the FPCCI side were its Vice Chairman of Confederation of Asian Chambers of Commerce, former president of SAARC Chamber of Commerce and former president FPCCI Tariq Sayeed, President Zakaria Usman, Senior Vice President Shaukat Ahmed , Vice Presidents Khurram Sayeed, Mazhar Ali Nasir, Ismail Suttar and Mian Mehmood.
President FPCCI Zakaria Usman said that through better packaging and developing new brands, value addition, focusing on non-traditional items and searching new markets Pakistan can have tremendous increase in its increase.
"There is no harm if we purchase some brands for certain period of time as we would be finally the owners of these. India did the same," he added.
He also urged for dully promoting Halal foods as Pakistan has the great potential and there is a big demand in the world.
He said TDAP with proper utilization of its resources and revising its policy/approach can play a dynamic role in increasing the exports leading to economic prosperity and development of the country.
TDAP should extend maximum incentives and facilities to the exporters and facilitate holding of Pakistan's single country international trade fairs and exhibitions in as many countries as possible besides encouraging Pakistan business community's participation in other international trade events for due projection of Pakistani goods to capture more trade share in the regional and global markets, he stressed.
He mentioned that in 1970s, Pakistan's exports were higher than those of Malaysia and Indonesia. We would address the causes for this decline, he said.
Zakaria Usman called upon the government to give FPCCI and opportunity to play its role in promoting and projecting Pakistani goods and services in the world.
FPCCI Chief informed the meeting that FPCCI, which is the apex trade body of the country , is working on to bring a shadow national budget wherein it would be proved that levy of only 5 percent taxes can generate enough revenue to meet the budgetary expenditure of the country.
Chief Executive Officer , Trade Development Authority of Pakistan , S.M. Muneer agreed to the proposals by FPCCI Chief for increasing exports of the country and assured that TDAP would take new and result-oriented initiatives in this regard.
He informed that TDAP has planned to hold two international trade exhibitions this year -- one in New Delhi in September and other in Karachi in October.
He said that TDAP would try to double the exports of the country within next two years.
S.M. Muneer said that he would be fighting for getting refunds of sales tax and customs rebates for the exporters which amount in billions of rupees and are stuck up with FBR for last couple of years.
He announced to appoint Director General of TDAP , Dr. Usman as the focal person to coordinate with private sector especially FPCCI in holding exhibitions.
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