EU mission, APTMA discuss GSP Plus.

LAHORE -- European Union's (EU) Generalized System of Preferences plus (GSP Plus) Monitoring Mission discussed in detail the developments and progress made on implementation of 27 International Conventions concerning GSP Plus with the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) leadership here on Friday.

The Monitoring Mission including Guido Dolara, DG Trade Service, Guus Houttuin, External Action Service, Andreas Striegnitz, External Action Service and Srefan Schroeer, Employment Service visited APTMA House where it was received by Chairman APTMA Abdul Rahim Nasir, Chairman North Hamid Zaman, Senior Vice Chairman Kamran Arshad, Aamir Fayyaz, former Chairman, senior textile leaders and Secretary General Raza Baqir were present in the meeting.

Head of the EU delegation informed APTMA members that the European Commission has published the legislation for GSP scheme (2024- 34) on September 22, 2021 for new GSP Scheme (2024 -34).

He said the EU had added six new conventions along with assessing the situation of human rights, press freedom, gender equality and child labour related issues last year while extending the GSP plus status for Pakistan.

Members of the visiting delegation informed APTMA members that the newly proposed scheme aims to improve key features of the scheme to better respond to the evolving needs and challenges of GSP countries, as well as, reinforce the scheme's social, labour, environmental and climate dimensions. It will be in place for ten years. There is an expansion in the list of International Conventions from 27 to 32 that beneficiary countries will have to ratify and implement, he added.

Speaking on the occasion, Chairman APTMA Rahim Nasir said since the grant of GSP Plus status to Pakistan, country's textile and clothing exports to the European Union have increased by 63 percent while the overall exports have increased by 45 percent.

He said the government has already approved the Textiles and Apparel Policy (TAP) 2020-25 to double Pakistan's export target up to US $ 42 billion. Textile Policy approved by the cabinet contemplated three years target as textile exports will be jacked up to US $ 27 billion in the fiscal year 2022-23, $34 billion in 2023-24, and US $ 42 billion in the fiscal year...