EU Ambassador asks Pakistan to apply for GSP Plus status

15 Mar '13

2 min read

Ambassador and Head of Delegation of the European Union to Pakistan Mr. Lars-Gunnar Wigemark has said that Pakistan qualifies for EU’s Generalized System of Preferences Plus (GSP Plus) status as per the new EU regulations and it should submit an application to the EU Commission in Brussels to get the same.

Mr. Wigemark, who held separate meetings with the representatives of All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) and the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), said the new regulations have been incorporated to accommodate countries like Pakistan and it is now up to Pakistan to effectively negotiate with the EU to obtain GSP Plus in 2014.

The Philippines and Ukraine also qualify for GSP Plus status, along with Pakistan, Mr. Wigemark said and added that the EU Commission in Brussels would take at least six-months time to evaluate an application. So, it is necessary for the Pakistan Government to timely apply for the same.

The Ambassador said EU is the largest trading partner of Pakistan with an annual bilateral trade volume of €8 billion. He added that they expect and hope that Pakistan may qualify for GSP Plus in EU.

Talking to APTMA representatives, the Ambassador said Pakistan is very strong in the textile sector and added that the EU was cooperating with Pakistani firms in meeting EU standards for exports of goods.

He lauded the role played by the Government of Pakistan in getting trade concession on 75 items for export to the EU.

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India

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