KARACHI - Consul General of Indonesia Rossalis Rusman Adenan has announced that multiple visas will be issued to leather exporters from Pakistan to strengthen leather sector here and to boost trade in leather between the two countries.
Speaking at the reception hosted for him by Pakistan Tanners Association (PTA) on Friday, Rossalis said that all is set to implement Indonesia-Pakistan Preferential Trade Agreement, said a PTA release here on Friday. The diplomat stated that Pakistan and Indonesia had signed the PTA on February 4, 2012 whereby Indonesia agreed to offer market access to Pakistan on 216 tariff lines on preferential rate while Pakistan offered 287 tariff lines. He said Pakistani importers would now be able to import palm oil and other similar items on preferential tariffs.
He said the issuance of visa on arrival would be considered. He, however, said visa on arrival is being issued to those Pakistanis who possess Schengen, UK and US visas. Rossalis has invited the PTA members to visit Indonesian Leather Fair-2013 being held in Jakarta from May 3 to 5, 2013. He said that the PTA delegation would be assisted by the Consulate during this fair and arrange B2B meetings with their Indonesian counterparts.
He informed that Indonesia imports about 4 million sheep from Australia every year and the demand is growing.
He said Pakistani leather manufacturers should explore Indonesian market to import cheaper skins and hides.
The Indonesian offer list included export products like fresh fruits, cotton yarn, cotton fabrics, readymade garments, fans, sports goods, leather goods and other industrial products.
Pakistan also agreed to provide the same treatment to palm oil products from Indonesia as provided to Malaysia under Pak-Malaysia FTA. It means Pakistan will import palm oil from Indonesia at 15 percent Margin of Preference (MoP) rate.
Pakistan has been importing palm oil and its products from Malaysia and Indonesia. Consul General articulated that the preferential market access provided by Pakistan to Indonesian palm products will have a positive impact on the overall economy of the country. Chairman Diplomats and Foreign Affairs Committee of PTA, Gulzar Firoz in his welcome address said that export of leather and leather goods are very low and urged for more efforts to boost leather trade.
He also underlined the need for frequent exchange of bilateral trade delegations and technical collaboration between the two countries. He invited the Indonesian delegation to participate in Pakistan Mega Leather Show to be held in Lahore in January 2014.
The event would be showcasing finest quality of leather, leather garments, leather gloves, leather footwear and made-ups.
The Chairman PTA (Sindh Zone), Amanullah Aftab in his address called for the boosting of bilateral trade relations between the two brethren countries. Danish Khan, Khurshied Ahmed and Aziz Ahmed also spoke on the occasion.