KARACHI, June 18 (INP): The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)/UK Aid funded “Revenue Mobilisation for Investment and Trade Programme” (ReMIT), being implemented by the International Trade Centre (ITC) has initiated a project to support Pakistan in gaining its rightful place in the international trading environment through a series of Seminar & workshops

These trainings are also being conducted with a special focus on promoting SME’s and ‘Women in Trade’.

A recent event was conducted by the ReMIT/ITC Project team in Karachi in collaboration with the Directorate General of Training & Research (Customs) in Karachi, Pakistan.

Thirty-one women entrepreneurs from Small & Medium Enterprises (SME’s), participated and benefitted from gaining comprehensive knowledge of the TFA with a view to identify obstacles to cross-border trade and advocate for their removal

Speeding up the movement, release and clearance of goods, the WTO TFA presents a viable option to resolve cross-border trade challenges in Pakistan, while strengthening trade facilitation reforms to make its business environment more conducive.

Explaining the FCDO funded ReMIT Project initiatives Dr. Jawwad Agha the Advisor Trade Facilitation elaborated upon the global experiences of the ITC in being a WTO body for TFA accession, ratification and implementation reform.

Stressing that the simplification, modernization and harmonization of export, import and transit procedures are a key to Pakistan’s economic progress, he informed that ITC/ReMIT programme will continue to support Pakistan and its trade stakeholders to derive benefits from the TFA, to implement trade facilitation reforms in the country.

Dr. Fareed Iqbal Qureshi, Director General, Directorate General of Training & Research (Customs), stated that women in business were the key to sustainable and inclusive economic growth.

Mehboob-ul-Haq, Managing Director, Sindh Enterprise Development Fund, Government of Sindh who was the Chief Guest for the opening ceremony appreciated the turnout of women entrepreneurs and invited them to participate in various incentive schemes that his institution offered business women.

Arif Ahmed Khan, CEO Trade Development Authority of Pakistan, who was the Chief Guest of the closing ceremony expressed the hope that the women entrepreneurs developed a better understanding of the WTO’s TFA over the two days.

Dr. Mohammad Saeed, Sr. Advisor Trade Facilitation, ITC Geneva thanked the management of the Directorate General of Training & Research for their collaboration, effort, and unconditional support for making the event possible. He also hoped that traders would show similar enthusiasm for future events.

All of the guests and participants appreciated the ITC team especially the Master Trainers Mr. Javed Mirza & Ms. Riffat Hasan for their efforts in imparting the ITC training modules and hoped that such initiatives would continue in the future as well. The master trainers praised the previous training events which enabled them to impart training to businesspersons carrying out cross-border trade.

The Revenue Mobilisation, Investment and Trade (ReMIT) for Pakistan is a large four-year technical assistance programme (2020-2024) funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), aimed at supporting Pakistan to implement reforms that lock in macroeconomic stability and improve conditions for high and sustained growth, mutual prosperity, job creation and poverty reduction.

INP/AK