05 May 2004 09:10
Com: EU Enlargement hailed By PLGMEA
Karachi, May 05 PPI: Chairman Pakistan Leather Garment Manufactures and Exporters Association (PLGMEA) Mr.Fawad Ijaz
Khan expressed hopes of boosting Leather Garment exports to enlarged European (EU) here on Wednesday. The ten new
entrants to EU are Poland, Hungary, Estonia, Czech Republic, Latvia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Cyprus and Malta. Their
combined population is 75 million with Poland being the most populated of these new members having a population of
nearly 40 million. Mr. Fawad stated that the Leather industry as a whole has shown remarkable growth in exports of
Leather, Leather Garments, and Leather products to these countries during the eight month period from July 2003 up to
February 2004. Total industry exports to these 10 newly inducted EU states surged by amount 100 to 4.50 million from
2.26 million during corresponding period of last year. This depicts that there is considerable market of our Leather,
Leather Garments and Leather products in these countries and good growth potential. The extraordinary high import duties
like 23 on Leather Garments in Poland have been reduced to 4 by inclusion in EU. On the contrary some countries like
Czech Republic and Estonia had 0 import duties prior to inclusion in EU which will now be raised to 4. But the overall
impact is expected to be positive on our exports of Leather Garments. Most of these countries have cold weather which is
suitable for Leather Garments consumption. These countries have access to Russian markets also which can tapped
effectively. Hopefully our exporters are able to capitalize on this opportunity 2nd increase our exports of Leather
Garments as well as other product to EU countries. Mr. Fawad suggested that Government should also realize this export
potential of newly inducted EU member states and devise aggressive international marketing campaign to penetrate these
markets for boosting our exports. He further stated that our Government should use its influence in WTO so that high
customs Import Duty of 20 on import of Leather Garments into Russia should be reduced. Russia is also very lucrative
market for Leather Garments but our export has suffered due to high duty.
(THROUGH ASIA PULSE)
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