Pakistan Leather Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PLGMEA) have asked the Ministry of Commerce to restructure the board of the Export Marketing Development Fund (EMDF), making it more similar to the board of the Export Development Fund (EDF).

The EDF board is largely made up of the chairmen of the major exporter associations, but at present, the board of the EMDF comprises government officials and one representative of the Federal of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI).

Mr. Fawad Ijaz Khan, chairman of PLGMEA, said: "The inclusion of representatives of prominent exporter associations on the EMDF board will undoubtedly increase the effectiveness of export marketing being carried out by the Government. The exporters are major stakeholders in these export marketing activities and their input will be instrumental in boosting our exports.”

Last year, the EMDF board, which subsidises marketing activities for the exporting industry, sanctioned projects worth PR. 800 Million, while the EDF board, responsible for development of human resources, product up gradation, development of training institutes, approved projects worth PR. 1.5 billion.