The
Minister for Commerce and Textiles, Mr. Pervaiz Malik emphasized the importance
of Agritrade and agribusiness for developing countries like Pakistan that
derive their livelihoods predominantly from agriculture. While speaking at the
WTO Public Forum event organized by FAO and UNIDO the Minister stressed the
importance of developing agriculture through access to newer technologies,
focusing on the rural economy, integration of agrarian countries into global
and regional value chains and providing a level playing field to farmers and
agriculture exporters from small countries.
He also highlighted the significance of climate change and food security
for developing countries as major challenges and called for agricultural
productivity.
During his visit to Geneva, he also
held a roundtable with the Friends of E-Commerce for Development (FEDs) – a
group of developing countries led by Pakistan and Costa Rica and discussed
matters surrounding connectivity and infrastructure for developing countries,
and the possible outcomes in this area for the upcoming MC-11 WTO Ministerial
Conference in December.
The Minister, along with a delegation
of Parliamentarians from Pakistan (namely, Mr. Siraj Khan - Chairman of the
National Assembly Standing Committee on Commerce, Senator Saud Majeed, and
Senator Syed Tahir Mashhadi) also met a Parliamentary delegation from the EU
Parliament comprising Mr. Bernd Lange, Mr. Helmut Schulz, Mrs. Inmaculada
Rodriguez-Pinero Fernandez, and Mrs. Emma McClarkin for a discussion on matters
of bilateral importance, primarily GSP plus. The Minister explained the
benefits to Pakistan and EU from the enhancement of bilateral trade as a result
of GSP plus and appreciated the efforts of the EU in this regard. He also
showcased the progress made by Pakistan in social development including the progressive
work on social and labour rights in the country.