Adil Bashir, chairman of the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) Punjab, assured to work with the European Union (EU) on all measures to secure the stability and growth of textile industry in Pakistan.
Talking to EU Ambassador designate to Pakistan, Androulla Kaminara on Tuesday, Bashir said that APTMA had played an active role in achieving the status of EU GSP Plus for Pakistan in 2014 to broaden its market access.
He said that the prime reason was relocation of buying houses of major retailers and brands to other competing countries besides the high cost of manufacturing in Pakistan.
Since the grant of GSP Plus status in 2014, the exports of Pakistan to EU had increased by 62 percent. In the early years of the facility, Pakistan’s exports to the EU witnessed significant growth but it had become stagnant at 5.5 billion for the last three years.
Although he stressed, the present government has taken special measures to stimulate industrial and export, and the business landscape in the country is changing rapidly.
APTMA, together with the Federal Government, is developing a long-term textile policy towards the stability and growth of Pakistan’s textile sector.
Further he said “Global consumer perception has completely changed and it has become more conscious about environment-friendly products.”
“There is no doubt that Pakistan has a vast potential to double exports, however, perception management is the key for the government and industry to maintain and sustain exports,” he added.
He emphasized that Pakistan needs to develop goods that were considered competitive in the European Union. “We are ready to help Pakistan increase its exports to the European Union and would like to become partners in this regard,” he confirmed.
