Page 5 - May-June-2020

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Inspiring Change Conference 2020 pushed to
September due to Covid; China-Pakistan FTA-II,

estimated export growth of $3.2 billion

Editor-in-Chief The China-Pakistan Free Trade Exporters’ Association (BGMEA)
Yousaf Fareed Agreement’s Phase II was and the Bangladesh Knitwear
implemented on 1st January 2020. Manufacturers and Exporters’
Editor Due to come into effect on 1st Association (BKMEA) has
Hassan Saeed December 2019, bureaucratic launched a comprehensive safety
TEXPO 2019 brings in $600m Sub-Editor delays in China pushed it forward and training package to help the
RMG industry better protect and
by a month. With the enforcement
Mehwish Sheikh
monitor workers and working
of this agreement, Pakistani
trade, says Federal Commerce Secretary Shagufta Riaz businesses are expecting a huge conditions during COVID-19.
Junaid Akhlaq
relief and the government is
As more and more workers return
expecting that with the
Advisory Board: implementation of just five percent to work, the RMG ‘Learning Hub’
Pakistan’s biggest textile exhibition at government on display. Leading fashion designers/textile houses and Dr. Tanveer Hussain of the agreement, Pakistan will see would focus on three core areas:
level, TEXPO-2019, has not only proved instrumental retail brands showcased their latest collections also. Dr. Muhammad Tausif an estimated export growth of $3.2 raising COVID-19 prevention
in further highlighting Pakistan’s soft image to the billion. TEXtalks believes that awareness among workers and
world but also attracted initially US$600 million trade He said that special initiative of bi-annual event of Marketing Manager exporters, especially the textile factory management; ensuring
through export orders by foreign buyers. Federal TEXPO had been taken by the Trade Development Sana Sadiq industry, will have to step up their COVID-19 Occupational Safety
Commerce Secretary Mr Ahmed Nawaz Sukhera Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) with prime objective of Saeed Ahmed game, particularly in delivery times and Health (OSH) preparedness
claimed this at the end of four-day 2nd Edition of enhancing country’s exports through comprehensive and quality maintenance as China guidelines are being followed, and
TEXPO at Expo Centre. display of diverse Pakistani textile and clothing Layouts itself is one of the biggest exporters continuing to promote strong
products. Faizan Khan of textile goods in the world. social dialogue in the workplace.
It was inaugurated by Mr. Abdul Razak Dawood, Developed by the ILO, the ‘learning
Adviser to PM for Commerce, Textile, Industry and Foreign delegations also visited historic and cultural Marketing Incharge The Pakistani textile industry is hub’ would serve as a one-stop
Production at Expo Center (Lahore). places of Lahore and all of them liked Pakistan and Abdul Haseeb facing a lot of challenges with virtual platform and has been
Pakistani products. They termed Pakistanis regards to the management of made possible through $750,000
Mr Sukhera said that 363 foreign buyers from more peace-loving and Pakistan a great place for trade Address their budgets, supply chain, time of of financial support from Sweden
than 50 countries participated in the TEXPO-2019 and investment, added Mr Sukhera. C-302, City Towers delivery, increasing taxes, and and Denmark.
and placed their orders. So far, he added, trade Main Boulevard, Gulberg II several others. The uncertainty of
agreements worth US$600 million had been signed The TEXPO-2019 also featured a Trade Envoys’ Lahore-Pakistan the electricity tariff due to According to H E Charlotta
and the process would continue. Conference on the last day where the stakeholders fluctuating adjustment charges is Schlyter, Swedish Ambassador,
from trade and industry and the government Phone: + 92 42 35 788 700 also a major issue that is affecting "this is really a time when
He said foreign buyers also inked 10 memorandums exchanged their opinions. Fax: + 92 42 35 788 700 their ability to effectively and price cooperation between the ILO and
of understanding (MoUs) with local export houses, their products in relation to the key stakeholders is more important
besides visiting field and industrial units in Lahore, The TDAP also organised a two-day seminar, Email: info@textalks.com competition. Also, the schemes than ever." “Our joint response is
Sialkot and Faisalabad. He added, “More than 5,000 attended by leading exporters from various sectors. Skype: textalks that allow tax-free cotton import focused on providing ‘best
business-to-business (B2B) meetings were also held Syed Iftikhar Hussain Babar, Federal Secretary Textile and the implementation of 10% tax practices” said Tuomo Poutiainen,
on the sidelines of TEXPO-2019, which will definitely and Industry, Ms. Aliya Hamza Malik, Parliamentary www.textalks.com on local cotton purchase is ILO Country Director.
help boost country’s textile and its related exports”. Secretary, Capt. (Retd) Javed Akbar, Additional affecting local purchases and
Secretary, Ministry of Commerce and Textile, Mr. motivation among growers. The Inspiring Change Conference
The secretary said that delegations from various Muhammad Sualeh Ahmed Faruqui, Secretary TDAP, 2020 that was to be held on 10th
countries including Russia, Bahrain, USA, China, Engr. Daroo Khan Achakzai, President FPCCI, Mr. It is interesting to note that the and 11th of March, was pushed
Japan, UK, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Czechoslovakia, Khuwaja Shahzad, SVP Lahore Chamber of International Labour Organization forward to September 18, the
Nigeria, France, Netherlands and Spain actively took Commerce & Industry, Ms. Shireen Arshad Khan, (ILO), in partnership with Garment same year due to the Covid 19
part in the TEXPO. Around 231 exhibitors including Vice President FPCCI were also present on Bangladesh Manufacturers and isues.
new entrants from across Pakistan put their products the occasion.

April/May 2019 May/June 2020