Exports may touch $25bn by year-end

Society Pakistan & World Affairs
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Thats not bad, but more needs to be done on the economic front.

http://www.dawn.com/2011/06/19/exports-may-touch-25bn-by-year-end.html

Exports may touch $25bn by year-end
From the Newspaper
Yesterday

The export figure for the current fiscal year is at $22.5 billion, and expected to further shoot up to $25 billion by June end. - File Photo

LAHORE, June 18: Pakistan’s dependence on US and European Union (EU) for its exports is reducing as their share has scaled down from 60 to 40 per cent at present.

Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) Chief Executive Tariq Iqbal Puri stated this in a media briefing on Saturday.
The TDAP Director-General, Mohammad Irfan Tarar, DG (SRO) Chaudhry Mohammad Ali, Director Yasmeen Qureshi were also
present.

Puri said that Pakistani export products are fast taking a niche in the markets of Egypt, the Middle East, China, Japan, South East Asia, Far East and Africa.

He said that export target for current fiscal year has been revised from $20 billion to $24 billion, and so far export figure was recorded at $22.5 billion, and hoped that this figure would further shoot up to $25 billion by June end. Though there was value factor in higher exports, the non-traditional exports volume increased quantitatively, he added.

To a question, the CEO said the authority was focusing on value-addition of exportable products, which would definitely increase value and quantity of exports manifold.To another query, he said that the TDAP had been discouraging livestock export at every forum, adding such an export deprived the leather sector of animal skins and other remains, which could provide maximum foreign reserves through their value-addition.

Other than increase in value, there has been a major increase in terms of quantity of products if we compare it with the period of July-April FY 2010-11 with corresponding period of last fiscal year.

This include 30.8pc in wheat, 8.1pc in pulses: 66pc in meat; 40pc in tobacco; 38pc in synthetic textile, 31pc in knitwear; 25pc in electric fans; 24pc in vegetables; 23pc in fish; 22pc in plastic material; 20pc in leather etc.

In addition to focusing on regional activities, he said the TDAP had planned to enhance its export promotion activities around the globe with special focus on China and Japan.

Puri said the arrangements for a four-day 6th Expo Pakistan exhibition to be held in Karachi from October 20, 2011, were in full swing, adding, the response of foreign buyers and local exhibitors is very encouraging.

The TDAP has declared China as the focus country for its trade initiatives in 2011-2012 and plans to participate in more than 20 fairs in China as part of Pakistan-China 60-year of establishment of diplomatic relations and recently held the first successful business forum in Kunming, China.

The Japanese government has recently lifted the ban on import of Pakistani mangoes and TDAP is engaging consultants for setting up of VHT plants at Karachi and Multan to take full advantage of market access opportunities made available due to lifting of ban.

However, the trial shipment is being processed through a Pilot VHT plant already established near Karachi Airport, which has the capacity of processing 60kg mangoes per day.

He said that he recently led a 111-member delegation to Tajikistan, which has tremendous export potential in textile, leather, fisheries, food products, marble and minerals. Pakistan fully supports Tajikistan’s bid to join World Trade Organisation (WTO).—APP

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Re: Exports may touch $25bn by year-end

Excellent news indeed! Though US/EU markets are huge but their conditions/quotas/favors keep many exporters away. This is good move to tap into other markets, trade with as many countries as possible.

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Re: Exports may touch $25bn by year-end

Excellent!

One very good point: The focus is shifting from US and Europe towards China, Japan and other countries of Asia/Africa etc.

I would however wish that the amount of value added items is increased. So instead of edibles/livestock, final products should be exported.

But anyway, this truly shows what potential this great country has! If we can do it under the worst corruption and worst security situation, what could we achieve if these two were to improve? :eek:

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Re: Exports may touch $25bn by year-end

mere bhai, how long are we going to harp on the same string? "zara num ho to...". Come on. It's time to stop congratulating our "potential" and actually get some results.

Good news about exports. Wonder how well we would have done if we did not have the power crisis?!

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Re: Exports may touch $25bn by year-end

The economic situation is not that bad considering the following:

  1. energy crisis: I dont know why we have that crisis in the first place considering Thar Coal, Sui (the forecasts have been revised to 100 trillion cubic feet instead of 29 trillion previously thought http://www.dawn.com/2011/06/21/huge-reserves-of-tight-gas-in-sui-na-informed.html), prospects for air, solar and hydel power generation.
  2. Terrorism
  3. Previous years floods

If properly managed the country can be turned around but we need sincere and honest leadership for that.

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Re: Exports may touch $25bn by year-end

You know we have found ourselves, Pakistanis and expatriate Pakistanis alike, in some manufactured comparisons with Afghanistan and Somalia. While no sane person will deny Pakistan has its problems, only an insane person would insist comparing Pakistan with somalia and afghanistan.

I hate to blame the media, cliched as it is, but it's done a lot of damange to the reputation of the country. For example, the Time article that proclaimed Pakistan is the most dangerous country in the world. "Expert" analysis in the Economist insisting that Pakistan is a failed state, so forth and so on. It's remarkable really. Somalia and Afghanistan? C'mon man.

On a molecular level, Pakistan is essentially no different then an average developing nation. In fact, it's far ahead of most of the average developing world. I will go as far to say it's no different then India, just without the PR.

I have stopped seeing Pakistan from a western opinion columnists view - a view I've had no choice but to use for the past twenty something years - and started to see it from an opportunity laden view. Whenever I sit down with young professionals, all I discuss with them (and they with me) as to how many opportunities exist in that country. Fortunes are to be made from the resources that are so ripe there. 70 percent of the country farms, which means 70 percent of the country is ready to export, if they are taught and helped to grow more efficiently. 30 percent of the country lives in urban centers, which actually means a good 20-35 million speak english (without the harsh indian accent): That's an educated army who's population is more then most countries in the world.

I do NOT see a country full of jihadis. I see a country with scholars, intellectuals, entrepenurs, accountants, CEOs, engineers and non profit workers. These people aren't from Karachi or Lahore only...I know and have met with every day educated working individuals from Multan, Peshawar, Quetta, Khairpur and the likes.

I sincerely feel the problems in Pakistan aren't extremely hard to fix. And they don't need to be completely fixed asap either. YOU invest in a better energy infrastructure (which is slowly happening) and you'll see. Just wait and see. 3 years.

I see Pakistan from my own lens.

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Re: Exports may touch $25bn by year-end

…and going with the optimist-ism, another great news:

Huge reserves of tight gas in Sui, NA informed
http://www.dawn.com/2011/06/21/huge-reserves-of-tight-gas-in-sui-na-informed.html

ISLAMABAD:** In what could cheer up Pakistan about the future in present times of energy shortages, Petroleum and Natural Resources Minister Asim Hussain told the National Assembly on Monday that Sui area in Balochistan had huge reserves of tight gas equivalent to its presently known natural gas reserves.**

Quoting estimates that he said had been kept hidden in the past, he also put the country’s natural gas reserves at 100 trillion cubic feet, compared to previously reported estimate of nearly 29 trillion cubic feet.

What were disclosures to the house came in a speech that Dr Asim said he had to cut short on instructions from the ruling party chief whip while winding up a debate on opposition cut motions on demands for grants in the new budget for the petroleum and natural resources ministry.

A member of the opposition PML-N and a former governor of Balochistan, retired Lt-Gen Abdul Qadir Baloch, told the house in a speech earlier that he had been once briefed about the existence of exploitable tight gas reserves deep under Sui equal to its presently known gas reserves.

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Re: Exports may touch $25bn by year-end

Very well written bro! :k:

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Re: Exports may touch $25bn by year-end

I'll say this much. Next time you go to Pakistan. Do two things, no matter who or where you are:

  1. visit the museums, architectural and hertiage sites and DO touristy stuff there. A culture of habits we haven't developed, but which needs our help. Go see the tombs for their historical values, go visit ancient sites, go visit the zoo!

  2. ask what people do when you go there. chances are, someone is always onto some idea, may it be IT, civic development project, someone who has a small farm, a small business scheme, wants to open a book store, or just want to do graphics for someone. YOU are the connector. You may even be a high school student of a house wife, but you have more connections then you think. How to help them? Just ASK them what they are looking for, and chances are its probably some investment from someone with similar ideas. i.e. they don't really need money, they need support through synergies abroad.