A training programme on EU GSP plus scheme commences in Lahore

Lahore: The business Community should step up their production and marketing efforts to get maximum benefit from the market access opportunity granted to Pakistan under the EU GSP plus scheme; said Arif Anwar Baloch, Secretary, Industries, Commerce & Investment (IC&I) Department, Government of the Punjab, while addressing the inaugural session of a training programme on EU GSP plus scheme organized at Lahore. He stressed public and private sector collaboration to enhance competitiveness and augment exports to EU following the grant of preferential access. The training was organized by the International Trade Centre (ITC) under EU funded TRTA II programme in association with IC&I department and Lahore Chamber of Commerce.

Farhan Aziz Khawaja Secretary Labor and Human Resources Lahore also spoke at the occasion. He highlighted the efforts of Punjab government for social compliance with the interventional conventions required under the scheme and in this regards the initiatives of his Department.

Later at the concluding ceremony  Ijaz Ahmad Mumtaz, President Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry underscored the need to enhance benefits from the GSP plus scheme which was achieved after successful diplomatic efforts of Pakistan. He said that in the current scenario, shortage of gas, power and law and order situation have crippled production activities across Pakistan. Availability of gas, power and improvement in law and order is imperative for the enhancement of exports in the light of GSP plus.

While speaking at the occasion, the representative of ITC/EU TRTA II programme Mr. Mohammad Owais Khan, Programme Officer highlighted the purpose of training session on EU GSP Plus scheme. He informed about the initiatives of ITC under the EU funded TRTA II programme and the recent publication which covers five sectors of export interest to Pakistan in addition to information about the scheme. He said that this training session would certainly help Pakistani exporters better understand and benefit from GSP plus scheme.

Two international experts from EU,  Jogi Oshiai from International Trade Center and Ms. Josephine Koopman from CBI Netherlands conducted the training. A similar training was held in Karachi on 10 November and similar trainings will be held in Sialkot and Faisalabad on 12 & 13 November, respectively.

Speaking on the occasion, DG PITAD Ms. Anjum Assad Amin pointed out that the major beneficiaries of EU’s GSP Plus scheme were textiles and garments sectors whereas leather and leather articles, footwear, plastics, ethanol, fresh and processed fruits etc. also have the potential to take advantage of the duty free access and record healthy growth levels. The training seminar was attended by more than 160 stakeholders from public and private sectors