Pakistan leather garment makers eye European opportunities
Mr. Fawad Ijaz Khan, Chairman Pakistan Leather Garment Manufacturers & Exporters Association (PLGMEA) has expressed the hope that his members will take advantage of the enlarged European Union (EU) which, as of May 1, now includes Poland, Hungary, Estonia, Czech Republic, Lithuania, Latvia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Cyprus & Malta.
Mr. Fawad stated that leather exports to these countries had already surged by around 100% to $4.5 million between July 2003 and February 2004 and that with the EU-wide standardisation of duties to 4%, further growth could be expected. The cold weather condition of many of the new entrant countries also made them especially attractive as export markets, as did their ready access to the Russian market.
Mr. Fawad suggested that the Government should devise an aggressive international marketing campaign directed at these markets and also lobby the WTO for a reduction in the 20% import duty that applies to the import of leather garments into
