Commercial Counselors to play vital role in promoting trade

A Delegation of 40 newly designated Commercial Counselors and 4 Consul Generals deputed abroad visited FPCCI Karachi and held a detailed meeting with Khalid Tawab, Senior Vice President, FPCCI and the office bearers of FPCCI. Khalid Tawab while chairing interactive session said that there is a need of close liaison between FPCCI and Commercial Section of Pakistan Embassies abroad.

The meeting was also attended by the Vice President of FPCCI Zulfiqar Ali Shiekh along with Former SVP FPCCI and Chairman Fiar and Exhibition and International Delegation, Abdul Rahim Janoo and Dr. Ikhtiar Baig, Waheed Shah, Capt. Kamal A. Mehmoodi, Sami Khan among others.

Khalid Tawab said that the newly designated Commercial Councellors have prime opportunity to enhance the country's export because the five major export sectors will be zero rated from 1st July, 2016 as per the announcement of the Prime Minister of Pakistan Mian Nawaz Sharif.

He stressed on the enhancement of country's exports which is currently declining for various reasons. He also invited the attention of the Commercial Counsellors for inviting rich participation from their respective coun- tries in forthcoming Pakistan International Trade Fair (PITF) to be organized by FPCCI at Expo Centre, Karachi. He also advised to create opportunities for Pakistani labours in their respective countries so that home remittances can also be increased.

Khalid Tawab further said that FPCCI is affiliated with international and regional organizations including CACCI, ECO-CCI, D-8 CCI, Islamic Chamber and SAARC Chamber of Commerce and presently, the presidency of D-8 CCI and ECO-CCI is lying with FPCCI.

The FPCCI work closely for improving the trade and investment within the regions and identifying the non- tariff barriers which currently affects our trade with other regions in general and countries in particular, he added. He further stated that FPCCI also keeps liaison with its counterparts in other countries for better economic and trade relationship and informed that there are various Joint Business Councils of FPCCI with many countries and suggested that the new Commercial Counsellors should revive and activate the JBC and arrange regular meetings.

Khalid Tawab expressed his hope that the commercial counselor will play their important due role in promotion and enhancement of Pakistan's trade in their respective countries and also enhance the soft positive image of Pakistan. The newly designated commercial counselors assured their full assistance and cooperation to FPCCI in identifying new potential areas for economic cooperation and joint ventures opportunities in their designated countries.

While discussing the trade prospects with EU countries, Dr. Mirza Ikhtiar Baig advised the newly designated Commercial Counsellors to create awareness about GSP Plus status of Pakistan amongst the exporters of the EU countries in exporting their material to Pakistan and also geared up to meet the challenges in terms of development of CPEC. He also suggested to organize meetings of Joint Business Councils.