Page 66 - TEXtalks November/December 2021
P. 66

66                                                                                                                                                                                                                             67


       Reports                                     EU's expectations and



                                                   possible extension of


                                                   GSP+ Status


                                                   Panel Dicussion at Inspiring



               International Conference on Textiles  Change Conference 2021


















                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Azfar Hasan highlighted the impact of GSP+ Status   countries have shown consolidation, and even after
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     and its worth for Pakistan's textile sector. The GSP+   the removal of GSP+ Status, they are not very much
                                                                                                                                              H.E. Ms. Androulla Kaminara. The European Union Ambassador to Pakistan  Azfar Hasan. CEO. Matrix Sourcing. Pakistan                                    Status helped Pakistan recover after Pakistan lost the   affected. Similarly, Pakistan has to learn from these
                                                                                                                                   beneficiary countries towards implementing 27    and it should be positive so that the parliamentarians                                                           market to the USA due to the 9/11 incident.       countries and do the needful to rely only on the EU                  climate-neutral products for the world. Here, not only   The
                                                                                                                                   international conventions. As Pakistan's GSP+ Status   can see the improvements and thus, extend the                                                              Pakistan's export to the EU is enormous, and it is   exports. Product diversification is the need of the               the exporters are trying to make sustainable     together to
                                                                                                                                   is currently under review in the EU parliament, the   GSP+ regime of Pakistan. For the next report, we are                                                        getting even better in denim and knitwear. Nobody   hour and must be backed by the right government                    products, even the local industries are trying to take
                                                                                                                                   discussion was just at the right time, providing future   working with Pakistan's government to help in                                                           can deny that the current and even the new        policies. However, the industry should step up in this               up the sustainable initiative as social responsibility.   As
                                                                                                                                   directions and throwing light on what was going on   drafting the subsequent report for maximum positive                                                          conventions are for the betterment of the textile   regard.                                                            She mentioned that she is thrilled with the partners'   busi
                                                                                                                                   with the GSP+ regime.                            attributes. Androulla Kaminara further said that                                                                 sector and the whole country. The industries should                                                                    progress the GIZ has been working. Earlier in    amount in s
                                                                                                                                                                                    currently, there is no decision to withdraw Pakistan's                                                           step up to remove the gap between industries and   Romina Kochius discussed that she had been                          Pakistan, social responsibility was not taken    20 years, t
                                                                                                                                   The EU Ambassador, Androulla Kaminara,           GSP+ Status; however, the following report will be                                                               Pakistan's government so that the improvements can   involved with Pakistan's textile sector for labor rights          seriously, and firms believed social responsibility was   in
                                                                                                                                   participated positively in this discussion and   scrutinized more strictly for that we have to work                                                               be performed and the GSP+ regime could be         and environmental protection. Pakistan's textile                     an unnecessary burden. However, with the passage   have expa
                                                                                                                                   highlighted her continuous efforts for possible   together for improvements. Pakistan has a great                                                                 renewed without any trouble. At the moment,       sector has the potential, and within the last seven                  of time and awareness, the industries working with   Pakista
                                                                                                                                   extension in the GSP+ Status of Pakistan. Androulla   potential to tackle the challenges the country is                                                           Pakistan is not ready to lose the GSP+ Status.    years, there have been substantial improvements. If                  us sensed that social responsibility is making their   could
                                                                                                                                   Kaminara said that the new GSP+ regime is coming   facing. Some legislative bills have been presented in                                                          Pakistan should explore different markets so that if   Pakistan wants to defeat poverty, sustainable options           firms even more profitable and safe. Now, the    end of the
                                                                                                                                   to force from Jan 2024 for the next ten years. EU   the national assembly of Pakistan; however, the EU's                                                          the GSP+ Status is lost, the country has some     are the only options. Implementation of better                       industries are putting efforts to enforce social   should st
                                                                                                                                   continuously evaluates the old regulations for   parliament will be looking for proper implementation.                                                            backup. Srilanka has consolidated its exports, and   working conditions and international standards
            The 4th Inspiring Change Conference (ICC 2021)    The panel discussion was one of the most awaited                     improvements. The old regime will end soon, and the   Only presenting the conventions at assemblies will                                                          Pakistan should learn from them. Pakistan is      regarding sustainability increases the productivity                  responsibility as their company's commitment.    exports and
            organized by TexTalks International was held      sessions by the audience, stakeholders, and textile                  new draft is ready, which proposed the EU        not matter if these are not in action. The protection of                                                         currently only negotiating and winning orders based   and profit of the compliance organizations. She                  Furthermore, with these sustainable efforts, orders
            successfully on October 14, 2021, at Lahore.      industries of Pakistan. It was all about the future of               parliament and EU council having additional five   journalist bills, anti-torture bills, enforced                                                                 on competitive prices. However, there is a solid need   highlighted the potential by giving an example of a            from the EU increased significantly. Pakistan has   The role
            National and International participants joined the big   Pakistan's textile exports to the EU.                         conventions. Pakistan has already signed the new   disappearances, and environment are the key points                                                             to diversify the industry from textile to other sectors.  lack of safety in Pakistan's industrial sector in 2017       shown an exemplary commitment in this regard.    sustainable
            day to inspire the audience with their keynote talks,                                                                  five conventions. EU is the biggest importer of   where Pakistan must work harder with urgency so                                                                                                                   when she took some industrialists to attend a                                                                         GSP+Status.
            discussion, and valuable suggestions. The         GSP has been an entrenched trade and development                     Pakistan's textile exports, i.e., 30% of Pakistan's   that the next report becomes appealing so that the                                                          Furthermore, Pakistan should also focus on value   conference in Singapore. Within four years, Pakistan                Hamid Zaman said that the EU's GSP+ conventions   rights, ch
            third-panel discussion featured Her Excellency    policy instrument since 1971, and Pakistan has been                  products go to the EU. In general, the EU's practice   EU's parliaments vote in favor of Pakistan. Various                                                        addition. Pakistan has adopted and significantly   presented 19 contributions in Toronto, Canada,                      are in our favor regarding exports, environment, and   media
            Androulla Kaminara (The European Union            the primary recipient of the GSP+ scheme for the last                is to produce a statistical report every two years for   issues require the attention of different stakeholders.                                                  changed the way it used to work. However, if      which showed the potential of the industries. The                    labor laws. The most important thing is that Pakistan   mutu
            Ambassador to Pakistan), Azfar Hasan (CEO Matrix   seven years. There is zero percent duty on several                  analysis and improvements. The report produced in   The stakeholders can deal with these issues at the                                                            Pakistan fails to get the revised GSP+ Status, the   country's young people are creative, educated, and                retains the EU's GSP+ Status. Pakistan is working   official
            Sourcing, Pakistan), Hamid Zaman (Chairman.       products under this Status – set to expire on Dec 31,                February 2020 was a mixed report that highlighted   federal, Provisional, and industrial levels. Thus, every                                                      biggest challenge for Pakistan is to sustain the   ready to take better opportunities.                                 hard to do the best practices to enforce labor laws,   worki
            APTMA North Pakistan), and Romina Kochius         2023. Under the current GSP+ system, the EU                          some weak areas and some significant             part of society has to play its role in attaining the                                                            change that we have adopted so far regarding      Pakistan is the second-largest importer of used                      safety issues, and environmental issues. As the   the next G
            (Project Manager TextILES, GIZ GmbH, Pakistan).   continues monitoring the progress made by the                        improvements. The next report due in 2022 is crucial,   GSP+ regime.                                                                                              environmental and social compliances. Other       textiles that could be recycled to produce                           organizations become more prominent, they spend   worth capt
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             and stakeho
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            the resources to better workers and the environment.
              November/December 2021                                                                                                                                                                      November/December 2021
   61   62   63   64   65   66   67   68   69   70   71