Services exports development key to economic growth: Secretary Trade Development Authority of Pakistan

Karachi, October 10, 2013 (PPI-OT): Enhanced competitiveness and export potential in services sector is needed to accelerate economic growth and job creation; this was a message given by Ms. Rabyia Javeri Agha, Secretary Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) while addressing the inaugural session of a training workshop on 07 October on “Trade in Services” organized at Karachi under the European Union funded TRTA II programme.

She mentioned that there is huge potential for export development in services trade particularly the telecom and transport sector. She flagged that traditionally Pakistan has been concentrating on the exports of goods though a lot of remittances are received through the exports of skilled and unskilled labor force.

She appreciated the efforts of ITC and PITAD under the EU funded TRTA II program for creating awareness about trade in services and vowed that TDAP will provide all possible assistance to the exporters of services.

The training course was jointly conducted by International Trade Centre (ITC) and PITAD in collaboration with TDAP Karachi. The EU funded TRTA II program has three main components where Component 1 is about trade policy capacity building and implemented by ITC. The training is delivered by Professor Pierre Sauve, head of academics and external programs at the World Trade Institute, Switzerland.

Professor Pierre Sauve a renowned international expert on Trade in Services thoroughly described the importance of services trade and comparative policy environment in different countries. He thoroughly described the rules of thumb for services negotiations and covered various commitments of Pakistan in bilateral services trade agreements.

Particular attention was given to analyze and identify Pakistan’s negotiating priorities in the Trade in Services Agreement (TISA). The training provided a good opportunity to the participants to understand issues related to Services trade and enabled them to effectively contribute to government policies in that connection.

Mr. Sajid Hussain, Director General PITAD, appreciated the efforts of ITC in developing institutional capacity of Pakistani training and research organizations. He emphasized the need to develop capacity to export services. He highlighted that the contribution of services is more than 52% in than GDP which needs to be further developed so that Pakistan benefits from the vast export opportunities available in this sector.

Mr. Mohammad Owais Khan Programme Officer International Trade Centre introduced the EU funded TRTA II programme and highlighted the assistance provided by ITC to local training and research organizations to build their institutional capacity.

He flagged the MOU facilitated by ITC between PITAD and the World Trade Institute which has contributed immensely to the capacity building of Pakistani policy makers. He vowed that ITC will continue to provide technical assistance to Pakistani institutes to enable them to benefit from international trade under the EU funded TRTA II program.

The training workshop was attended by 62 participants from public sector, private sector and academia. The training will be replicated in Lahore on 08 October and Islamabad on 10 October to build capacity of stakeholders on Trade in Services and to discuss with them the vast opportunities that could be availed by enhancing competitiveness in this sector.

For more information, contact:
Trade Development Authority of Pakistan
5th Floor, Block A, Finance and Trade Centre, Shahrah-e-Faisal,
Karachi 75200 Pakistan.
PABX: 92-21- 9206487-90
UAN: 92-21-111-444-111
Email: tdap@tdap.gov.pk
Website: www.tdap.gov.pk