Govt to create business friendly environment: Zahid Hamid (Associated Press of Pakistan, Sep.10, 2013)
ISLAMABAD, Sep 10 (APP): Minister for Science and Technology Zahid Hamid on Tuesday said that the
government would create business friendly environment to attract more investment.Every possible help would be
provided to enhance the country economy and by the imposition of this law the hurdle in the export of “Halal” food
would be minimized, he said while chairing a meeting regarding draft of Pakistan Halal Regulatory Authority.
The meeting was attended by representatives from Ministries, of Commerce, National Food Security and Research,
Industries, Religious Affairs, Establishment Division, representatives of the provinces and heads of the
organizations under MoST.The Minister said that business in the halal sector is of immense importance as it can
have a very positive impact on the economy through value added exports.
It was decided that the proposed draft would be amended in the light of discussions, suggestions of the participants
before finalizing.
The Chairman Punjab Halal Development Agency Justice ® Khalil-ur-Rehman briefed the participants about the
proposed draft.
All the participants agreed in general to the draft in accordance with the Sharia Law.
Justice ® Khalil-ur-Rehman said that global halal industry is currently valued over 3 trillion dollors business and
Pakistan share is only 28 million dollors.
By the implementation of the bill the country export would be increased as in the global market the need of halal
food is very high.
SME Conference 2013 on 19th in Lahore (The Nation, Sep.10, 2013)
LAHORE : The 7th Pakistan SME Conference 2013 organised by SHAMROCK will be held on Sept 19, 2013. A
number of issues now challenging the SME sector in Pakistan will be taken up for discussions for policy
interventions. Several key organizations such as the SBP, Commercial Banks, SMEDA, Business Support Fund
(BSF) of the Ministry of Finance, LCCI, IFC-World Bank and UNISAME will be participating in the conference
which now serves as a bench mark to address issues and pressing needs of the SME sector in Pakistan.
Menin Rodrigues, Chairman, Shamrock Conferences International and Convener of the conference said that the
SME Conference is now an annual feature of our conferences program and plays an important role in highlighting
the problems faced by the SME sector in Pakistan. There are 3.2 million economic establishments in the country of
which more than 90% are SMEs. It employs 75% of the non-agricultural workforce and contributes 30% towards the
national GDP. The forum is open to all stakeholders to deliberate on matters that are important to support the lifeline of Pakistan’s economy.
Denmark Embassy decides to open commercial section (Brecorder, Sep.10 2013)
Denmark Embassy has decided to open a commercial section by the end of this year with the purpose to further
boost trade ties between Denmark and Pakistan. To better assist Danish companies in Pakistani market, the Embassy
of Denmark in Islamabad will open a commercial section later this year. This information was shared by
Ambassador Sorensen during his meeting with Qasim Niaz, Secretary of Commerce, according to the detail released
by the embassy here on Monday.
On this occasion, Ambassador Sorensen stated, "My goal is to increase Danish exports of goods to Pakistan by 40
percent over the next three years. This is an ambitious goal, yet I believe it is realistic. Pakistan is planning vast
investments in areas, where Danish companies offer advanced and high-tech solutions. Renewable energy, energy
efficiency, health care solutions and food production are some of the areas, where Danish companies have strong
holds. Pakistan has a huge potential with its large population, low labour cost, rising middle class and young
population. At the Embassy, we will work to attract more Danish companies to Pakistan. We will open a commercial
section later this year. I would also like to see more partnerships between Pakistani and Danish companies to the
benefit of both our countries."
In 2012, the total Danish export of goods to Pakistan was $93 million. The main areas were machinery,
pharmaceuticals, food stuff and raw materials. In 2011, Denmark's export of services to Pakistan amounted to $94
million, almost all related to the maritime industry.
In CY 2012, Pakistan's total export of goods to Denmark was $95 million. Around 40 percent was related to the
textile industry. In 2011, Pakistan's export of services to Denmark amounted to $81 million, of which 45 percent
was related to the maritime industry.
The Danish Embassy in Pakistan will open a commercial section on December 1, 2013, headed by a commercial
advisor. One year is trial period, however if it turns out that the arrangement is successful and requested by Danish
companies, the plan is to make the arrangement permanent.
Pakistan can become leader of world halal market (The Nation, Sep.10, 2013)
LAHORE - Malaysian State Minister for Religious Affairs and Domestic Trade Haji Abdul Malik Kassim has said
that Pakistan Halal products are fast gaining ground in international halal market, therefore government should
expedite measures to start certification to give required boost to this trade that has 16 per cent share in total world
trade.
The Malaysian Minister was speaking at Halal Food Exporters Conference held in connection with Lahore Shopping
Festival 2013 and organised by the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry in collaboration with Punjab
Government.
Malaysian Minister Haji Abdul Malik Kassim said that Malaysia was playing a very vital role in the expansion of
Halal food industry and taking all possible measures for the promotion of Halal products. He said that Pakistan has
the potential to become superpower of Halal industry since it has all the required ingredients and potential.
He expressed the optimism that Pakistan can triple Halal food exports by formulating and implementing policies in
consultation with private sector.
Provincial Secretary Livestock Sajid Yousafani said that Pakistan has the ability and potential as well to capture a
sizeable portion of $2 trillion world Halal food industry and the existing volume of exports is no match to Pakistan’s
annual output of Halal meat He said that the required legislation for Halal certification was at advance stage and
would help give considerable boost to Pakistani Halal exports.
The LCCI President Farooq Iftikhar said that demand for Halal products had increased manifold because of growing
Muslim population world over therefore the government should encourage the export of Halal products.
He further said that LCCI was doing needful for the promotion of Halal products but government would have to
come up with a package of incentives so that quality Halal foods could be exported from Pakistan.
LCCI Standing Committee on Halal Food Convener Nasib Ahmad Saifi said that there is no Muslim country
included in the list of first ten Halal meat exporters, although Pakistan, Sudan and other Muslim countries have big
potential of exporting Halal meat globally.
He said that Pakistan’s strength is a 100 percent Halal production base, with over 180 million consumers in Pakistan
and a direct access to a 470 million Halal consumers in Central Asia, Middle East and Europe. He said that Pakistan
has great opportunity to grab its share of global Halal product market by enhancing its production and improving
quality.
He urged the exporters to continue to explore available opportunities in the world market and focus on research that
is a must while doing business at global marketplace. He said that the recommendations of the conference would be
presented to the government so that the country could be able to earn much needed foreign exchange.
BASF to open Polyurethanes Technical Development Centre (Brecorder, Sep.10, 2013)
BASF - the world's leading chemical company - on Monday announced to open the Polyurethanes Technical
Development Centre in Pakistan, offering improved services to customers, and bringing the latest developments in
the market to industries in Pakistan including home appliances, furniture, construction, footwear and transportation.
The initiative will complement BASF's range of offerings, technical expertise and strategic collaborations in the
region.
The state-of-the-art facility, at the BASF production site in Landhi, Karachi, houses a wet lab, dry lab and a foamcutting area. The facility is also fully equipped with cutting-edge technology and will offer customer support
services ranging from trouble-shooting to customised formulations, line trials and customer training sessions for
polyurethane applications in diverse industries.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony Hyoung Soon Moon, Vice President Asia Pacific, Performance Materials,
Polyurethanes, said, "Polyurethanes Technical Development Centre in Pakistan is yet another cornerstone of our
growing global network in Asia. At the new centre, we will work in collaboration with our customers to drive
sustainable solutions for the present and upcoming industrial challenges such as meeting the local technical
specifications of Original Equipment Manufacturers' of four & two wheelers for transportation segment, passing
stringent Technical Specification Test for export-oriented sports goods for comfort segment, high energy star rating
in appliance segment , providing technical edge to key accounts in footwear and smart housing solutions for
Construction segment," he added. Speaking about this new development, Qazi Sajid, Managing Director, BASF
Pakistan (Private) Limited said, "With the new lab, we are now able to serve our customers better and faster. It will
play a pivotal role in enhancing the quality and efficiency of technical services."-PR
Brazil starts five-year multiple entry visa for businessmen (Associated Press of Pakistan, Sep.10, 2013)
ISLAMABAD, Sep 10 (APP): Brazilian Embassy here on Tuesday formally issued first five-year multiple entry visa
to leading Pakistani businessmen to further promote bilateral trade and economic activities. The Ambassador of
Brazil to Pakistan Alfredo Leoni, handed over the passport of Mr. Jamil Ahmed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of
Perfect Hometz company and a leading textile manufacturer who got first ever five-year multiple entry visa here at a
simple ceremony held at Brazilian Embassy.
Member of National Assembly, Rana Aftab Ahmed Khan, who specially attended the ceremony, said that
introduction of five-year multiple entry visa for Pakistani businessmen will improve bilateral trade.
He said the strong diplomatic and political ties of Pakistan and Brazil, should be transformed to improve bilateral
trade.
He said the business community of the two countries should get full benefit from the available potential to promote
economic activities.
The Brazilian ambassador Alfredo Leoni speaking on this occasion said the new visa policy will encourage frequent
movement of business community in the two countries that will enhance and strengthen bilateral trade which has
almost reached to US dollars 285 million.
He said the new visa policy was confirmed after the exchange of notes after a comprehensive discussion by the
representatives of ministry of foreign affairs of both the countries.
The ambassador said, Brazil, the 6th largest economy of the world, is the largest commercial partner of Pakistan in
Latin America and the balance of trade between the two countries reached almost US dollars 285 million in 2012.
He said the export from Pakistan to Brazil increased by more than 100 percent from the year 2009 to 2012, from US
dollars 44 million to US dollars 92 million.
Major Brazilian exports to Pakistan include cotton, fuel pi,ps, plastic, iron and steel, tobacco, pulp, among other
while major Pakistani exports to Brazil include textile items, surgical goods, soccer balls and manicure instruments.
The ambassador said there is great potential to increase bilateral trade and expressed the hope that it will cross US
dollars one billion mark very soon. Highlighting the potential markets for the bilateral trade, the ambassador said,
the products like poultry meat, agricultural machinery, orange juice, tea, spices, coffee, auto parts, textile and
garments, leather goods, marble and granites, sports gear, fans and wood handicraft.
He said Pakistan and Brazil could also expand their cooperation in different fields through joint-ventures and jointresearch, such as biotechnology, pharmaceutical, poultry production, telecommunications and bio-energy.
The ambassador said Brazilian companies are also interested to share their experience in various energy production
projects.
He said there has also been progress between the two countries in cooperation in agriculture sector adding that
Brazil could share its experience in improving sugar cane crop.
Head of Consular Section Gustavo Carneiro and Head of Press and Commercial Section Helena Jornada were also
present on this occasion.
Jamil Ahmed, a businessman from Faisalabad, who got first ever five-year multiple entry visa for Brazil, said it is
manifestation of the hardwork done by the Brazilian ambassador who is actively engaged to promote bilateral trade
besides improving political and diplomatic ties.
He said with the introduction of five-year multiple entry visa for Pakistani businessmen, the bilateral trade will be
further improved in near future.