Transcript TRADE RELATED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMME

TRADE RELATED
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
PROGRAMME
Presentation By:
Mr. Tahir Raza Naqvi
Secretary to Government of Punjab
Commerce & Investment Department
PUNJAB’S VISION 2020

Socially Conscious, Well-Off, Cultured
Modern Society
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Strong internationally competitive
companies

World class infrastructure with modern
urban centers

Developed Market Economy–capable of
meeting globalization challenges
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A High Value Adding Agriculture
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Improved Governance-Efficient Public
Service Delivery

GDP growing at 7-8% per annum

Supportive environment for private
sector-led growth
Highlighted elements of
the vision are
impossible to meet
without overcoming the
technical barriers to
trade (TBT) and sanitary
& phyto-sanitary (SPS)
compliance
requirements
The Collaboration…

European Commission undertook a programme
for technical assistance interventions

The focus was to learn about and provide
support to various institutions and enterprises in
Punjab

This was done within the framework of the
ongoing EU funded Trade Related Technical
Assistance (TRTA) program executed by
UNIDO.
The Fruit of this Collaboration…

Two Publications Produced:
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Trade Related Challenges facing Exporters in Pakistan
Pakistan’s Agro-Based Exports and SPS Compliance
The above publications conducted detailed
surveys and analysis undertaken by UNIDO
in cooperation with the World Bank and
provide:


Comprehensive identification of TBT and
SPS compliance challenges facing Punjab
Cluster Based Studies…

Quality & Compliance issues covering the
following cluster enterprises has been
conducted:
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Electric Fans Cluster, Gujrat
Cutlery Cluster, Wazirabad
Sports Goods Cluster, Sialkot
Textile Cluster, Faisalabad and Lahore
Tangerine Cluster, Sargodha
Mango Cluster, Multan
Materials Testing Laboratory…

Commerce & Investment Department is establishing
a state of the art Material’s Testing Laboratory with a
total cost of Rs. 199.25 million.

The lab. Will provide:

Fast & reliable accredited testing services
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Assistance in CE mark certification

Improvement to product quality & production process

International buyers’ confidence by promoting quality
culture
Materials Testing Laboratory…

The project has been possible with strong
support from UNIDO.

UNIDO assisted C&I Department by:

Providing an ‘International Resource Person’ to
conduct a survey of the existing testing facilities of
Punjab.

Providing a holistic structure of the requirements to
meet international standards

Providing the necessary cost structure of equipments
and infrastructure to create project feasibility.
CE Marking…
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UNIDO and C&I Department conducted a
series of consultative workshops covering CE
markings issues
Entrepreneurs from Lahore, Gujranwala,
Wazirabad, Sialkot and Gujrat were involved
extensively
UNIDO’s international resource person
visited a few selected factories to provide
support for CE compliance
What have we Learnt…

The TRTA interventions provided by UNIDO
in close association with Punjab Government
have:
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Raised quality concerns resulting in non-compliance
Raised the need for industry involvement to address
compliance issues to enhance exports of the Province
Raised issues relating to product development and
Raised several areas where continued support is
essential
Next Steps in the Relationship…

Crucial that initiatives taken under the ongoing TRTA
are further consolidated to impact on the industrial
and export trade growth of the Punjab Province

Punjab Government would request the EU
Commission to take up the successor phase of
TRTA to build up on key initiatives already started
under the current TRTA and by incorporating
additional programmes addressing supply side
developemnt of exports
The Specifics…

Focus areas of the successor TRTA could
constitute:
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Establishment of credible and accredited conformity
assessment services covering product testing,
certification, inspection, traceability and calibration
services

Quality improvement and maintenance along the supply
chain in a holistic approach & manner
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Addressing compliance issues and challenges to meet
export market requirements
The Specifics…cont.
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Addressing SPS requirements specific to agro-based
exports from the Punjab
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Promotion of the international competitiveness of cluster
enterprises through product grading, marking (CE mark),
labelling and branding

Promotion of international market connectivity coupled
with export diversification schemes through use of
market intelligence and information services, product
mapping tools and participation in trade faiirs.

Institutional network for qualitative training and capacity
building with reference to WTO implications
The Specifics…cont.
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Technical/financial assistance to stakeholders/farm
owners for acquiring certifications and adopting farm
Management Systems.
Assistance to stakeholders to minimize Post Harvest
Losses
Concluding Remarks…
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Punjab is one of the regions with a high
export development potential in both
traditional and non-traditional exports.
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It is therefore critical that the concerns of
grass root beneficiaries operating at the
provincial level are appropriately reflected in
order to bring success in delivery of the TRTA
programme impacting our development
aspirations.