AVN Report
exports: UBG
KARACHI: The volume of local exports could be doubled by setting up warehouses in African countries, suggests the United Business Group (UBG), which is actively engaged in enhancing Pakistan’s exports to Africa.
Zubair Tufail, UBG’s President, acknowledges that China and India presently dominate Africa’s export market with $90 billion and $30 billion respectively, in contrast to Pakistan’s modest exports totaling around $1.50 billion. Tufail attributes the success of China and India to their consistent presence and assertive marketing strategies in the African region.
In order to rectify this imbalance, Tufail stresses the necessity for Pakistani trade organisations to create African desks within their facilities. This strategic maneuver would enable members to tap into the untapped potential of the African market, particularly in sectors such as pharmaceutical products, cereals, textiles, machinery, and leather goods.
He underscores that Pakistan holds a competitive edge in these industries and could substantially enhance its exports by targeting the African market. The government’s “Look Africa Campaign,” aimed at promoting exports, could receive a substantial boost through collaboration with trade associations, he proposed.
Presently, Pakistan’s exports to Africa primarily comprise cereals, cotton, textiles, sugar, and paper products, while imports include tea, coffee, crude oil, iron, steel, inorganic chemicals, and cotton.
UBG emphasises the substantial untapped opportunities in Africa for Pakistani goods such as rice, pharmaceuticals, surgical goods, light engineering, and electronic products.
Hanif Gohar, UBG’s Secretary General for the Sindh region, suggests that establishing stronger networking connections with African counterparts through Pakistan’s trade missions could bridge the information and connectivity gap between the two regions.
Furthermore, exploring the organisation of exhibitions focused on individual countries and arranging trade delegation visits to diverse African nations like Algeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Senegal, Sudan, Tanzania, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, and South Africa could unveil latent markets for Pakistani goods.
By acting upon these suggestions and expanding its footprint in Africa, Pakistan could forge more robust economic ties and unveil fresh trade prospects. This endeavor will not only contribute to the growth of both Pakistan and African nations but also strengthen their bilateral relations, say UBG officials.
