Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) would organize Mango festival in Gilgit by first week of September and will invite international organizations for promotion and value addition of these products. “We are committed to promote and branding of local fruits from Gilgit Baltistan, Swat and Azad Jammu and Kashmir and value addition for the facilitation of growers and traders,” senior official of the ministry told APP here on Thursday.
The priorities of TDAP were the value addition and enhancement of value supply chain for the promotion of agriculture trade and exports of the country, he said. “We would initiate the project of establishing cold storage in Gilgit Baltistan for prolong preservation and to enhance the shelf life of apricot, peaches and persimmon,” he said. Replying to a question, he said the ministry has a plan to create international level institute for innovation and value addition of leather and gems and jewelery in the country. “We are working to explore new trade avenues and markets in different regions,” he added.
The government was committed in providing direction and diversification to internal trade for improving supply chains vital for enhancing the country’s exports. He said that the ministry was contributing to the national economy through trade facilitation and liberalization, improved export competitiveness and by reducing the cost of doing business.
The official said that TDAP was working with international organizations including Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Center for the Promotion of Imports (CPI) in developing countries for branding and enhancing the value addition in agro-trade in these areas. Replying to another question, he said that the ministry was going to set up a research center in collaboration with UNIDO for training and enhancing the capacity of staff. The government was committed for enhancing foreign trade; the government was committed to improve the standards according to the international market.—APP