ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Netherlands on Wednesday signed a memorandum of cooperation for institutional building of the Trade Development Autho­rity of Pakistan (TDAP) and capacity building of other business support organisations in Pakistan and to provide export coaching programme to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to meet the requirements of GSP+.

The agreement was signed between the TDAP and Centre for Promotion of Imports from developing countries (CBI) in The Hague, Netherlands, said a message received here. Federal Minister for Commerce Khurram Dastagir Khan attended the signing ceremony.

During his meeting with the Dutch Minister for Trade and Development Co­­operation, Ms Ploumen in Amsterdam, Dastagir urged Dutch companies to invest in dairy, horticulture and agriculture and livestock research.

The minister also attended the ceremony to launch the Netherlands-Pakistan Business Facilitation Forum (NPBFF).

The purpose of the forum is to facilitate and create awareness among the Dutch trade and investment sectors with regard to opportunities created in the wake of GSP+ and China-Pakistan Econo­mic Corridor.

Addressing another seminar on global value chains, the minister presented Pakistan’s case especially in the textile sector.

He apprised the gathering regarding efforts of the government to improve working conditions in the country.

He said that with the grant of GSP+ to Pakistan, there is a growing urgency amongst the businessmen to know and implement good manufacturing practices to make workplaces safer and accountable.

The Pakistan government and ILO have been partnering for many years to bring meaningful measures into the place.

Published in Dawn, December 10th, 2015