ISLAMABAD/NEW YORK: Pakistan’s Commerce Minister Syed Naveed Qamar met with the representation from the American Apparel & Footwear Association and office bearers of Pakistani leading businesses here on Friday where they discussed venues and opportunities for facilitating the business community and to address their concerns.
The delegation included President & CEO American Apparel & Footwear Association Stephen Lamar, Vice President (Trade & Customs Policy) Beth Hughes, Nate Harmen, Ms. Hun Quach and others
Other key participants included Shelley Rider (Interloop), Steve Pianowski (Nishat Chunian), Ahmed Fraz (Gul Ahmed), Irfan Hassan (Al-Karam); Mubasher Butt (Prgmea); Kamran Arshad (APTMA) and Muneeb Tariq (PHMA).
Secretary Commerce Muhammad Sualeh Ahmed Faruqi briefed the participants, while Pakistan’s Ambassador to the U. S, Masood Khan, was also present on the occasion.
The meeting highlighted matters and challenges relating to bilateral trade in cotton and textiles, focusing on strengthening Pak-US trade ties, institutionalizing mutual linkages, traceability and visibility of products, standardization, and facilitation of the business fraternity, maintained in a press release issued by the Pakistani embassy.
Pakistan to facilitate business community
Naveed Qamar said that as Pakistan was keen to strengthen its economic relations with the U.S, the private sector and the business community had a significant role in realizing that objective. He said that the government was committed to providing every possible facilitation to the business fraternity and putting policies that could fulfill the needs the global market as well.
The minister further said that the private sector should come forward with innovative ideas and solutions to surpass existing challenges and grab greater market penetration. The minister said that diversification of the products while ensuring quality, affordability and competitiveness would assist getting better market share to the products of Pakistan.
The meeting was informed that the government of Pakistan is setting up National Compliance Centre to address matters of compliance of Pakistani products to international standards. The Centre will be operational by 30 June this year.
The Minister also encouraged entrepreneurs from the US to actively participate in the TEXPO exhibition at the end of May this year.
