Islamabad (Commerce Desk): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved the modernisation of the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) to promote the country's exports, expand access for Pakistani products to international markets, and bring local industries as well as small and medium-sized enterprises in line with global trade standards.
A review meeting on TDAP's performance and institutional reforms was held in Islamabad under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister, during which important decisions were made regarding the restructuring of the organisation and its improvement in accordance with modern requirements.
Addressing the meeting, Shehbaz Sharif said that taking products manufactured by local industries to international markets was extremely important for increasing the country's exports. He added that a modernised trade organisation would play an effective role in achieving this objective.
The Prime Minister also directed the establishment of a comprehensive system and an integrated framework covering all related stages to increase agricultural exports.
He said that trained personnel should be recruited in TDAP on the basis of transparency and merit, adding that institutional reforms could only succeed when employees' career progression was linked to performance and the achievement of set targets.
The Prime Minister also directed that the services of a reputable private audit firm be hired to audit the organisation's performance and financial affairs.
He said that Pakistan had immense potential to promote exports and that the country's geographical location was also significant in this regard. The government is providing facilities to industries and small and medium-sized businesses to ensure that the country's export potential can be fully utilised.
The meeting was given a detailed briefing on TDAP's current performance, administrative structure and the challenges facing the organisation. A comparative review of the experiences of internationally successful trade promotion organisations was also presented.
The briefing stated that modern trade organisations provide integrated services to support the development of local industries, access to international markets, enhancement of exporters' capabilities and promotion of trade activities.
The reform plan presented to transform TDAP into a modern institution meeting international standards includes limiting its scope to eight core sectors, restructuring its administrative board and organisational framework, improving the regional offices system, and utilising digital platforms and artificial intelligence.
Proposals were also presented to introduce measurable performance targets and an independent external evaluation system to assess the organisation's performance.
A 12-month phased plan covering approval, planning, implementation and independent evaluation was presented for carrying out the reforms. The Prime Minister directed that its implementation be completed by the middle of next year.
Federal Ministers Rana Tanveer Hussain, Jam Kamal Khan, Ahad Khan Cheema, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Attaullah Tarar, Shaza Fatima Khawaja and Dr Musadik Malik, Prime Minister's Adviser Haroon Akhtar, Minister of State Bilal Azhar Kiyani and other senior officials attended the meeting.