GSP Plus status to remain intact by 2023: Dastgir

"The GSP Plus status will remain intact by December 31, 2023 and hence Pakistani exporters should fully concentrate on enhancing their exports to the potential markets of EU countries." Federal Minister for Commerce, Engineer Khurram Dastgir said this while addressing a function at Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI), here on Tuesday.
He said that some elements are expressing undue apprehensions about the disruption of GSP Plus status. He said that mid-term review of GSP Plus is also scheduled during next year but it does not mean that this facility is being withdrawn. He said that despite of this facility we failed to fully exploit it. He told that there is huge untapped potential to increase trade with eastern EU countries and hence we should fully exploit these available opportunities.
The minister further said that present government has recruited 13 commercial officers purely on merit basis. These officers have been deputed in various countries and the business community should remain in touch with them to fully avail from their expertise. He said that the exporters must remain in contact with them while travelling to these countries.
He told that few months back he was in Brussels to attend a meeting regarding GSP Plus status. During this visit he also chaired a two-day conference of commercial officers deputed in European Union. He told that they also responded to the questions asked by representatives of various associations of Karachi on Skype. He said that such meeting could also be arranged for FCCI.
"Pakistan has inked Free Trade Agreements with China, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Indonesia which are under-utilised", he said and added that the business community should fully exploit these FTAs and he is ready to deputed commercial officer from TDAP or from his ministry to guided them in this respect. Dastgir said that the situation has improved in Pakistan as compared to 2013. "We are going to establish a banking system with Iran within next couple of weeks which will open new opportunities for the Pakistani businessmen," he added.
He mentioned that federal government had already approved this proposal and work on it will be started as soon as it was signed by the concerned authorities. He further said that the prices of electricity and gas will start decreasing during this year while the construction of motorway up to Karachi will ensure safe and secure connectivity between all parts of the country. He said that international flights have already started from the airports of Faisalabad, Multan and Sialkot.
He said that now we are in a position to request foreign countries that have issued travel advisories to withdraw it as such directives are not feasible in the prevailing circumstances. He asked the businessmen to submit their proposals specifically for the export-oriented industry through which the surcharge of Rs 3.4 could be eliminated for the exporters.
Regarding duty on cotton yarn, he said that he will review these issues in a scheduled meeting of Pakistan Textile Board and he will try to his best to remove the imbalances prevalent in the system. About Faisalabad Expo Center, he said that funds from EDF will be released as soon as the land was transferred to the construction company.
Earlier, President Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Engineer Muhammad Saeed Sheikh presented his address of welcome and underlined various issued faced by the business community of Faisalabad. Later, President FCCI presented shield to the minister while VP Engineer Ahmad Hasan offered vote of thanks.