960407

Pak trade centre

to be set up in

Rotterdam soon

IQBAL MIRZA

KARACHI: 'Pakistan Trade and Distribution Centre' (PTDC) will soon be established in Rotterdam (Netherlands) to help Pakistani exporters promote their products in the European markets.

Osman Gohar Tareen Khan, President, Pakistan-Netherlands Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in a meeting with Senator Ilyas Bilour, President, FPCCI, held at the Federation House here said that he was assigned the task of establishing the PTDC when an FPCCI trade team led by the past President of FPCCI, S.M. Muneer, had visited the Netherlands in November last year and conducted a detailed study in this respect.

He said that a feasibility report on the setting up of the PTDC was prepared and was submitted to the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) for seeking financial assistance. He added that his visit here was intended to sign an agreement with the EPB and to finalise other details and terms and conditions for the establishment of the PTDC.

Tareen said that Trade & Distribution Centres (TDC's) of 10 developing countries, including India, "are operating in Rotterdam which are all located at the Euro-Trade Park, which spreads over an area of approx. 3000 sq. metres".

He said that the proposed Pakistan Trade Centre to be established at an area of 500 sq. metres would have a permanent display centre spreading on 300 sq. metres area with two professional salesmen, initially, who would help in marketing and sale of Pakistani products.

Senator Ilyas Ahmed Bilour appreciated the efforts of Gohar Khan Tareen assured him of all possible co-operation on behalf of the FPCCI.

He expressed satisfaction that Pakistan's exports to Netherlands were continuously increasing and the balance of trade which had all along remained in favour of Netherlands had titled on Pakistan side since 1993-94.

He said that during 1994-95 Pakistan's exports to Holland stood at $262 million as against $208 million in 1993-94, while imports from Netherlands totalled at $139.57 million in 1994-95 as compared to $138 million in the preceding year.

He expressed hope, that with the setting up to PTDC, Pakistan's exports to that country would get a major boost.