UNISAME URGES ENHANCED BILATERAL TRADE WITH INDIA

The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) expressed positive outlook for enhanced bilateral trade with India and said the business community needs easy visa facilities without police registration and urged the Indian government to welcome Pakistani SME merchants as they are prospective buyers and sellers and both can benefit from inter action. Likewise even Pakistan needs to facilitate the Indian SMEs for visiting Pakistan on business visa.

Zulfikar Thaver member board of directors of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) speaking as chief guest at workshop at a local hotel on ‘Art and Science of Trade With India’ said the business community is impressed by the Indian merchants for their expertise in manufacturing, trading and services and their skills in marketing, packing and logistics are of international standards.

He said proximity with India is one of the reasons for promoting import and export between SMEs in both countries who can benefit from the lower freight and supplementing needs of one another in shortest possible time.

He also recommended border trade from Wagah and Khoprapark in Sindh and suggested launch service between the two countries from Indian Mundra port to Karachi to promote prompt deliveries of commodities as launch shipments are best suitable for small shipments of the sector.

Thaver also suggested that both the countries need to open their bank branches for smooth transfer of funds for payment of import and export bills and other banking facilities. He emphasized the need for transfer of technology under collaboration for mutual benefit. Pakistan needs to set up the EXIM Bank as the EXIM Bank in India plays a vital role in trade promotion.Besides both the countries need to promote trade through their embassies and consulates.

Jagat Shah the expert consultant on international trade from Cluster Pulse Economic Development ( CPED) said the SMEs need to realize that there are many items which India exports and at the same time imports as there are segments and giving the example of chocolates he said they are exported and chocolates are also imported as there is free trade and the SMEs need to realize this fact but he stressed on the need for the SMEs to study the aspects of trade on scientific lines under the SPANCO system which is based on Suspect, Prospect, Approach, Negotiate, Close and Order scientific method and recognized as such the world over.

He explained the concepts of risk taking and said that the challenges for SMEs are the same globally. He stressed the need for scientific approach for selling by focusing on short listed countries and buyer and studying data on the basis of Harmonious Code search. He said 70% of business is done by 30%.

Jagat Shah during the course of his talk named several website for the benefit of the participants and also offered Quick Market Research (QMR) facilities for the SMEs desirous of import export trade with India. He advocated strategic selection of segments, well designed introduction brochures, participation in trade shows, listening to customers and preparing for fast growth.

He suggested opening of joint venture companies with Indian merchants in Dubai for facilitating exports and imports.

He enlightened the participants with his knowledge and experience on international trade and it was very interesting as although speaking on trade with India he opened the mind of the audience on international trade as the concept is applicable globally.

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