PRGMEA hails commerce ministry role over GSP Plus status Lahore – Appreciating the role of commerce ministry the Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PRGMEA) on Sunday welcomed the European Union decision to retain the GSP plus status for Pakistan for another two years, stressing the need for an aggressive marketing plan to exploit this huge opportunity of enhancing exports to EU countries.
“The apparel sector appreciates the efforts of Advisor to Prime Minister on Commerce and Industry Razzak Dawood, Secretary Commerce Sardar Ahmad Nawaz Sukhera and the whole team of Commerce Ministry,” said PRGMEA Chief Coordinator Ijaz Khokhar.
Ijaz Khokhar said that the International Trade (INTA) Committee of EU Parliament has extended the Generalised System of Preferences-Plus status for Pakistan, enabling the country to continue to enjoy preferential duties on exports for the next two years.
While this facility has been available to Pakistan since Jan 2014, its continuation is an award for Pakistan’s progress in enacting new laws and developing new institutions for implantation of 27 core conventions of GSP-Plus, especially the National Action Plan for human rights.
He said that in view of the outcome of 3rd Biennial Review of GSP so far, the PRGMEA would like to commend the efforts of the government especially the commerce ministry, which coordinated with other ministries, federal and provincial departments to formulate policies and laws so that 27 conventions related to GSP Plus could be fully implemented.
He said that Pakistan’s exports to the European Union have enhanced from 4.538 billion Euros since the grant of GSP Plus in 2014 to 7.492 billion Euros in 2019, registering an increase of 65% which is not so significant.
“We could not take full advantage of the GSP plus benefit, primarily due to lack of solid marketing plan to improve our exports.”
