960403

Incentives to

exporterrs in

next budget.

says EBP chief

ISLAMABAD: The government would provide incentives to the exporters in the next budget to boost and expand the export net, Mian Habibullah, Chairman Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), said here on Wednesday.

Speaking at a seminar on "promotion of exports and strengthening the economy" organized by Pakistan National Center, he forecast a tough competition ahead which can only be met with "aggressive marketing".

The EPB had so far organized about 60 trade exhibition at home and abroad to promote export , he said and added, about 20 delegation were also sent abroad to introduce products in the international market.

To improve the quality of export goods, he said, the EPB is establishing 29 vocational training institutes across the country to meet the criteria of ISO-9000.

For this purpose, the EPB is organizing seminars, he said and urged the chambers, trade bodies and associations to participate and get the ISO-9000 certification for quality product.

The government, he said, has provided many incentives to the exporters and paying full attention to the "life line of our economy."

Mian Habibullah said the Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto, led trade delegations to several countries which have started producing results. The traders were given representation to provide them the proper fora at the highest level to meet their counterparts.

The EPB, he said, also send follow-up missions and invited trade delegations from abroad to achieve tangible results from these visits.

About the foreign trade delegations, he said, recently high-powered delegation from Canada, Switzerland, UK and Singapore visited Pakistan and evinced keen interest in investing in Pakistan besides,entering into joint ventures.

In this connection, he informed a 32-member Chinese delegation would visit Pakistan to discuss trade imbalance and enter into joint ventures.

A Pakistan delegation of Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industries (RCCI) will also be visiting Australia during the current month to explore avenues of trade relations between the two countries.

The Chairman EPB emphasised the need to develop export culture at provincial level to remove trade hurdles and enhance competitiveness. He said it is important to create a conducive atmosphere for the businessmen to increase export and improve its quality.-APP