TRADE RELATED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMME

1. TRADE RELATED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMME Presentation By: Mr. Tahir Raza Naqvi Secretary to Government of Punjab Commerce & Investment Department

2. PUNJAB’S VISION 2020 • Socially Conscious, Well-Off, Cultured Modern Society • Strong internationally competitive companies • World class infrastructure with modern urban centers • Developed Market Economy–capable of meeting globalization challenges • A High Value Adding Agriculture • Improved Governance-Efficient Public Service Delivery • GDP growing at 7-8% per annum • Supportive environment for private sector-led growth Highlighted elements of the vision are impossible to meet without overcoming the technical barriers to trade (TBT) and sanitary & phyto-sanitary (SPS) compliance requirements

3. The Collaboration… • European Commission undertook a programme for technical assistance interventions • The focus was to learn about and provide support to various institutions and enterprises in Punjab • This was done within the framework of the ongoing EU funded Trade Related Technical Assistance (TRTA) program executed by UNIDO.

4. The Fruit of this Collaboration… • Two Publications Produced: • Trade Related Challenges facing Exporters in Pakistan • Pakistan’s Agro-Based Exports and SPS Compliance • The above publications conducted detailed surveys and analysis undertaken by UNIDO in cooperation with the World Bank and provide: • Comprehensive identification of TBT and • SPS compliance challenges facing Punjab

5. Cluster Based Studies… • Quality & Compliance issues covering the following cluster enterprises has been conducted: • Electric Fans Cluster, Gujrat • Cutlery Cluster, Wazirabad • Sports Goods Cluster, Sialkot • Textile Cluster, Faisalabad and Lahore • Tangerine Cluster, Sargodha • Mango Cluster, Multan

6. Materials Testing Laboratory… • Commerce & Investment Department is establishing a state of the art Material’s Testing Laboratory with a total cost of Rs. 199.25 million. • The lab. Will provide: • Fast & reliable accredited testing services • Assistance in CE mark certification • Improvement to product quality & production process • International buyers’ confidence by promoting quality culture

7. Materials Testing Laboratory… • The project has been possible with strong support from UNIDO. • UNIDO assisted C&I Department by: • Providing an ‘International Resource Person’ to conduct a survey of the existing testing facilities of Punjab. • Providing a holistic structure of the requirements to meet international standards • Providing the necessary cost structure of equipments and infrastructure to create project feasibility.

8. CE Marking… • UNIDO and C&I Department conducted a series of consultative workshops covering CE markings issues • Entrepreneurs from Lahore, Gujranwala, Wazirabad, Sialkot and Gujrat were involved extensively • UNIDO’s international resource person visited a few selected factories to provide support for CE compliance

9. What have we Learnt… • The TRTA interventions provided by UNIDO in close association with Punjab Government have: • Raised quality concerns resulting in non-compliance • Raised the need for industry involvement to address compliance issues to enhance exports of the Province • Raised issues relating to product development and • Raised several areas where continued support is essential

10. Next Steps in the Relationship… • Crucial that initiatives taken under the ongoing TRTA are further consolidated to impact on the industrial and export trade growth of the Punjab Province • Punjab Government would request the EU Commission to take up the successor phase of TRTA to build up on key initiatives already started under the current TRTA and by incorporating additional programmes addressing supply side developemnt of exports

11. The Specifics… • Focus areas of the successor TRTA could constitute: • Establishment of credible and accredited conformity assessment services covering product testing, certification, inspection, traceability and calibration services • Quality improvement and maintenance along the supply chain in a holistic approach & manner • Addressing compliance issues and challenges to meet export market requirements

12. The Specifics…cont. • Addressing SPS requirements specific to agro-based exports from the Punjab • Promotion of the international competitiveness of cluster enterprises through product grading, marking (CE mark), labelling and branding • Promotion of international market connectivity coupled with export diversification schemes through use of market intelligence and information services, product mapping tools and participation in trade faiirs. • Institutional network for qualitative training and capacity building with reference to WTO implications

13. The Specifics…cont. • Technical/financial assistance to stakeholders/farm owners for acquiring certifications and adopting farm Management Systems. • Assistance to stakeholders to minimize Post Harvest Losses

14. Concluding Remarks… • Punjab is one of the regions with a high export development potential in both traditional and non-traditional exports. • It is therefore critical that the concerns of grass root beneficiaries operating at the provincial level are appropriately reflected in order to bring success in delivery of the TRTA programme impacting our development aspirations.