“Quality products complying standards can quantify South Asian exports in Global Market”

Islamabad, July 18, 2012 (PPI-OT): “Adoption and implementation of International standards can help quantify share of South Asia’s exports in global market” said Iqbal Tabish, Secretary General of SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry(SAARC CCI) in the kick-off meeting of the standardization Project “ Workshop on Trade Promotion through Standardisation in the South and South East Regions (SESA), commenced in Jakarta, Indonesia on July 16, 2012.

The workshop was jointly organized by National Standardisation Agency, Indonesia (BSN), Sustainable Development Policy Institute(SDPI), Pakistan and South Asia Watch on Trade, Economics and Environment(SAWTEE) supported by Swedish Standards Institute (SIS).

“ Products complying standards contribute 90% of the Global trade while the share of South Asian exports in global trade remains 1.5%, which clearly demonstrates the inability of South Asia to produce quality products, complying international standards” said Secretary General of SAARC CCI and demanded technical and financial assistance for institutional capacity-building of the institutions concerned.

He emphasised for the need of undertaking study, identifying cost and benefits analysis and developing inventory of products where carbon footprint and sustainable criteria for bio-energy.

The Swedish Standards Agency invited representatives including heads of business associations/chambers/national standards agencies/academicians, researchers and Government officials from Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan Sri Lanka from South Asia and Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos and Vietnam.

In addition to Iqbal Tabish, SG, SAARC CCI, experts group from Pakistan comprised Dr. Vaqar Ahmed, Head Economic growth unit, SDPI, Mr. Ghulam Mohiuddin from PSQCA and Kanwar Muhammad Javed Iqbal, Senior research Associate, SDPI who also made presentation on Sustainable Criteria for Bio-energy, also participated with future inputs.

For more information, contact:
SAARC Chamber Of Commerce and Industry
Apex Business Organization of SAARC
House No. 397, Street 64, I-8/3, Islamabad- Pakistan
Tel: +9251 486 0611 -3, 831 6023
Fax: +9251 831 6024
Email: info@saarcchamber.org,
Website: www.saarcchamber.org