EPB’s Successor...

The Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) is a body corporate established on 8 November, 2006, under a Presidential Ordinance. The Ordinance will be tabled in the Parliament as an Act for approval. The TDAP is the successor organization to the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) and is mandated to become a dedicated, effective and empowered organization that is professionally managed. TDAP, as part of its trade ‘development’ mandate, as opposed to ‘export promotion’ only, will be dedicated to the ‘holistic’ development and promotion of goods and services for exports globally. TDAP in this enhanced responsibility and role will create direct linkages with stakeholders, local and abroad, aiming for a ‘Quantum Leap’ in exports. The administrative ministry of the TDAP will be the Ministry of Commerce.

The Export Promotion Bureau, in Retrospect
Set up in 1963 as an attached department of the Ministry of Commerce, the Export Promotion Bureau facilitated exporters across the country, helping them overcome challenges by leveraging opportunities on the supply and demand side. It funded initiatives, and assisted in establishing common facilities with stakeholders. For 43 years, the erstwhile organization was the primary agency of the Government of Pakistan that played a vital role in promoting Pakistan’s goods and services internationally.
 
Over the 43 year period EPB played a critical role in helping exporters to participate in 30 to 80 exhibitions abroad each year. Regularly sent and received between 20 and 40 business delegations each year to and from export destinations to explore new markets and enhance market share through sustainable growth and diversification. Over the years EPB has supported the development of equal number of trade policies, implementing the consequential initiatives it was assigned. Its role in Textile Quota management is especially significant. It has issued millions of GSP Certificates and management of gold and jewelry export regulations. More than 20,000 exporters have been facilitated and part-funded to exhibit and grow their exports; over 2,000 delegates have been sent or hosted in Pakistan.

The setup of the Expo Centre in Karachi, and now in progress in Lahore, is a milestone in assisting exports, managing Pakistan’s image and providing the country and the city of Karachi significant new economic opportunities. The organization has carried out mega export promotional activities, within and outside Pakistan, hosted individually and also in co-ordination with trade bodies. On supply side, EPB established over 22 training institutes and projects in various export sectors to train necessary manpower to manage the export trade. It has provided the forum for exporters and importers dispute resolution through the mechanism of commercial courts in collaboration with the judiciary.

One of the most significant contributions of the EPB, as desired by the President of Pakistan, General Pervez Musharraf, was to provide Pakistan with its first ever Export Strategy and a roadmap for export growth. Undertaken in close consultation with stakeholders in year 2000, analysis of Pakistan’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) resulted in the development of the strategy for exports. This strategy differentiated between strategic thrusts directly impacting achievement of Volume and Value in exports and those that would cause a more Enabling Environment for the private sector to realize their aspirations. This strategy articulated enhancement of market share of Pakistan’s Core product categories in the major markets, achieving value addition and increased competitive strength, specifically focusing on selected product sectors (‘Developmental’) and weak geographical areas, for product and market diversification. The strategy also emphasized the energizing of women entrepreneurship in support of Pakistan’s exports and enhancing overall economic value addition in the country, achieving bilateral and multilateral trade agreements for gaining market access, leveraging economic relations with countries where Pakistan already enjoyed strong bilateral relationships.

The significance of EPB’s achievements in more than four decades is evident from the significant rise in exports. Pakistan’s exports reported at just under quarter of a billion dollars, increased by over 70 fold since 1963, to touch nearly US $ 16.5 billion in 2005/06. The growth in the last 7 years alone has been US $ 8.68 billion i.e. 112 % more than 1998/99 (US $7.78 billion).

Truly the EPB has been a Partner in the country’s Prosperity.