LAHORE: Pakistan’s exports to the Europe are dominated by textiles and clothing as well as leather products while Pakistan’s imports from the Europe mainly comprise mechanical and electrical machinery as well as chemical and pharmaceutical products. Europe is Pakistan’s most important and largest trading partner accounting for 21.2% of Pakistan’s total exports and 16% of its total imports.
Presiding over a monthly meeting of the executive committee of PFC here on Wednesday , Pakistan Furniture Council (PFC) Chief Executive Mian Kashif Ashfaq said PFC will send delegations one each to Italy, Portugal, Germany, Denmark and United Kingdome instant month to explore the avenues of export of made in Pakistan furniture and share the expertise ,new designs and modern skills with their counterparts.
Pakistan Furniture Council, an apex body in private sector will send 5 high level delegations of leading furniture exporters and importers to European countries in one month for promotion of trade links through mutual collaboration in areas of common interests in the second week of this January.
He made it clear that the trade volume of Pakistan and EU is not very impressive, as compared to India. The business community of Pakistan needs to explore the European market and exploit it to its maximum potential. In this regard, he said PFC is focusing on marketing activities in key markets of the European Union and a concerted action is being taken for holding exhibitions; websites; international trade fairs and in-depth market analyses.
He further said the establishment of joint ventures with foreign producers of woods for the provision of required machinery can bolster the quality of our furniture products and brings them at par with international standards. “Therefore, there is a dire need to transform our furniture business from cottage or small scale to highly innovative industry, for which training of skilled labour and high-end supplies are required,” he added.
Mian Kashif Ashfaq said Pakistan does not have globally well-known trade market which can convince the international business community about innovation and quality of Pakistani products. The government of Pakistan needs to encourage and support business houses to invest and develop trust worthy trade markets. “There is a need for holding exhibitions in EU member states to raise awareness about Pakistan’s traditional and innovative products,” he added.
He said Europe will be the biggest market for Pakistan’s textile products in the future; however, Pakistan should also focus on other export products to increase its share in the European market and reduce dependence on textiles. He said that in Pakistan most of the furniture is hand-made but still it was very cheap and could be marketed in EU countries at a high price.
