While addressing the inaugural session of the 18th Textile Asia 2017 International Trade Fair, the federal minister said that several concrete steps were being taken to increase the volume of country's overall exports. Pervaiz Malik said that the PM has directed to constitute a committee to undertake a detailed analysis of the impact of Export Package, proposing some changes in scope and coverage of the Package.
The three-day Textile Asia Exhibition is being jointly organized by the Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers & Exporters Association (PRGMEA) and E-Commerce Gateway Pakistan held here at Lahore Expo Centre from Saturday-Monday (September 16-18, 2017). The minister also appreciated the role of PRGMEA and congratulated its leadership for holding a successful 18th Textile Asia.
Addressing the ceremony, PRGMEA Central chairman Ijaz Khokhar said that PRGMEA has taken the initiative with the collaboration of Ecommerce Gateway Pakistan and brought textile machinery fair in Pakistan to increase productivity and for better competitiveness.
Ijaz Khokhar said that China Pakistan Economic Corridor has opened up a momentum of opportunities for industrial cooperation between Pakistan and China. Under CPEC projects government is keen to link Chinese Small Manufacturing Enterprises with Pakistani SMEs, as a number of Chinese firms will relocate their production units in Pakistan. "China needs markets for its products and searches for raw material while Pakistan needs access to technology to boost its industrialization," he said.
He asked the government to consider value-added textile as a key priority area, making all possible efforts to set the right policies and incentives that encourages private sector investment in value addition. Ijaz Khokhar said that the apparel segment is the highest value-added link in the entire textile value chain. Though global market is highly competitive, Pakistan's Apparel Industry has proved its strength by pushing export by 5.55% in 2016-17.
Addressing the ceremony, PRGMEA Vice Chairman Jawad Ch said that garments industry is the least energy and capital-intensive industrial activity and is well suited for Pakistan to generate economic growth and employment. He said that textile is the only sector which contributed USD 12, 452.53 million (60%) in exports for the year 2016-17 (Jul-Jun) and USD 12, 447.69 million (59%) in exports for the year 2015-16 (Jul-Jun).
Dr Khursheed Nizam, CEO of Ecommerce Gateway Pakistan, said that Textile Asia is a landmark event, which has provided an effective podium for joint ventures and collaborations among the local textile industry and international entrepreneurs, where more than 50,000 trade and corporate visitors are expected during three days, besides more than 600 foreign delegates are participating. The exhibiting countries include China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Korea, Taiwan, Turkey, Austria, Czech Republic, UK, and USA etc.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2017