KARACHI, March 10: The WTO cell of the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) has been given a task to work with the stationery industry and develop a proposal for the ministry of commerce to include stationery items in the free trade agreements (FTAs).

This task was assigned to the WTO cell by the TDAP Chief Executive, Tariq Ikram, at a recently held debriefing of stationery manufacturers who participated in the “Paper World China” Shanghai exhibition in November 2007.

It was noticed that none of the existing FTAs benefited the stationery industry. The meeting felt that it was necessary to include stationery items in the FTAs, RTAs and PTAs that have been already signed or are to be signed in the future.

The TDAP chief formed a seven-member committee, led by the chairman of Writing Instruments Manufacturers Group of Pakistan, to chalk-out a strategy paper to boost export of stationery items in a quantum leap.

The exhibitors informed the TDAP that almost all industries who participated booked significant orders from not only the buyers in China but also from Turkey, Egypt, North Africa, US, Europe and various other countries.

Pakistan’s stationery industry, with the exports touching $5.5 million, was producing a world class wide range of products, complying with international quality standards.

These certifications have been done by international laboratories as no facilities for such certification are available in Pakistan either in the private sector or in the public sector.

Pakistani manufacturers were not using any hydrocarbons nor

xylene toluene based products. There is no child labour involved and, therefore, the industry is socially compliant as well.

The product range from Pakistan includes almost all products, such as pencils, staples, pins, glue, ballpoints, highlighters, fountain pens, inks, artist colour, hobby colours etc.

Ikram encouraged the industry to consider joint venture with international companies to be able to produce branded goods with buy-back arrangement of the leading stationery brands of the world.

He also offered the industry to take advantage of the TDAP’s scheme to support branding, opening of offices abroad and the warehouse for penetrating African market.

He informed that TDAP can bring in world class consultants for any aspect of business development, including design, production, marketing and training.

Ikram advised them to develop application for ensuring that exports are zero-rated to obtain duty and tax refunds on their exports.

Industry people complained that the existing refunds did not cover the actual duty and tax element in the exports. Ikram also agreed to consider the inclusion of stationery items as one of the developmental sector in TDAP’s export strategy.—APP