Food and Agro

Agriculture sector plays an important role in the economy of Pakistan, as it accounts for a significant percentage of the country's GDP (nearly 22%), and employs an even larger percentage of the country's workforce (nearly 45%). Despite such noticeable numbers, it is the considered opinion of experts that Pakistan still has a huge untapped potential for grabbing a significant share of world agro-food exports. The Agro Food Division at TDAP, is focused on helping stimulate the export of agro-food products from Pakistan in order to achieve this potential. To this end, various projects and activities are undertaken by the Division, which are as follows:

1. Exhibitions of Agro-Food products: Participation in nearly 10 international exhibitions annually is undertaken for this sector by the Agro-Food Division. Some significant exhibitions attended by our exporters include Gulf Food (Feb 2010), World Food, Moscow (September 2010), Sial Food Fair (September 2010), Anuga Food Fair (October 2010). Some local exhibitions are also organized by the Division to showcase potential of our agro-food products. 2. Delegations of Agro-Food product exporters: The Division organizes exporters' delegation to potential importer countries of Pakistani agro-food products. In year 2009-10, some of the countries visited by such delegations included Maldives, SriLanka, Australia, Newzeland, Malaysia, and Oman . Similarly, delegations of buyers are invited to visit Pakistan in order to see the potential and range of Pakistani agro-food products. In the last year, we had delegations from South Africa and Yemen. 3. Projects for Agro-Food exports: There is a dire need in the country for improving the quality of our agro-food products by transfer of technology, improving the hygienic conditions at production and packaging stage, as well as value-addition. This need is met by various projects undertaken by the Agro-Food Division, like setting up of the Cold Storage and Common Facility Centers to provide technical training in crop protection, quality improvement, storage, processing, packing and marketing of agro-food commodities.

Besides the above summarized major activities, the Division is continually engaged in preparing commodity / country reports pertaining to the agro-food sector, as well as organizing informational and training seminars and workshops for current and potential entrepreneurs in this sector. Such activities are of course undertaken with full consultation - and sometimes in collaboration - with the various stakeholders of the Agro-Food sector.

Textile and Clothing

Textile is the largest sector of our exports, and the single largest employer. To endeavor to move forward rapidly on the export front, it is inevitable that special attention be paid towards this sector. TDAP has tried to provide a focused approach in attaining this objective. Steady growth in worldwide demand in Textile & Clothing and rapid changes in the fashion industry have made it unavoidable to equip this sector with modern techniques and technology to make it nimble-footed enough to identify and respond to changing tastes worldwide. The Division keeps a strong liaison with the entire Textile related Associations on this platform. The Division has been doing a region-wise market study to see the demand and coming trends in Textile Sector in different countries and regions. For this the Textile and Clothing Division is working in close coordination with the Marketing Divisions at TDAP. TDAP has been undertaking a lot of efforts on different avenues for the promotion of this segment. The major emphasis is being given recently on Value-Addition in the Apparel Sector. This division has initiated a number of Projects, Seminars, Exhibitions, Delegations, Special Incentives/Subsidies, Alliance with Associations, Promotion of Fashion Designers, New Institutes, in recent times to promote and create awareness among the stakeholders in the different ways to make this Industry more viable and profitable. TDAP's Textile & Clothing Division is also looking after exports of Carpets, Handicrafts, Leather and Leather Goods. Trade Delegation for Leather was sent to Czech Republic / Poland / Hungary in the financial year 2009-10. More such delegations are planned for Australia / New Zealand for leather and for Textiles to African countries. The Division also plans to hold a product display for Pakistani textile products at Osaka, Japan, in the current financial year.

Minerals and Metals

Pakistan has exceptional export potential of mineral/metals due to its significant natural resources. The country is well-endowed with a great number such minerals and metals which include: Petroleum Group, Marble, Onyx, Granite and other Dimensional Stones, Talc (Soap Stone), Rock Salt, Sea Salt, Gypsum, Coal, Gemstones, Noble Metals, Chromites, Copper Ore, Iron Ore, Lead-Zinc Ores etc.

Keeping in view the enormous export potential of minerals, the Minerals & Metals Division was established at TDAP to tackle issues pertaining to entire value chain of minerals & metals and to broaden the spectrum of exports. The Division is responsible for the following: Extensive interactions with internal and external stakeholders Developing new exportable products and new exporters Addressing region specific challenges Identifying all potential minerals and metals available in Pakistan that can generate export revenue Identifying aspects of production process with high wastage in the existing resource extraction and processing activity sequence, prior to export Preparing marketing plans for foreign investment, joint venture and technology transfer for development of minerals and metals.

TDAP's efforts based on aggressive marketing and institutional facilities to the Mineral sector have resulted in the expansion of exports from the country. Gems & Jewellery, Petroleum group, Marble& Granite, and Chromium ore, contributed a big share in the exports.

Minerals & Metals Division is working to increase the export of natural resources by maintaining a close liaison with stakeholders and participation in International Trade Fairs & Exhibitions. The Division is also contributing to the human resource development endeavor for the sector, by developing vocational institutes in different parts of the country.

Engineering and Other Manufacturing

Engineering & Other Manufacturing Division mainly looks after export promotion of Engineering goods including Electric Fans, Transport Equipments, Other Electrical Machinery, Machinery Specialized, Auto parts & Accessories, Surgical Instruments, Cutlery, Sports Goods. In addition, Pharmaceuticals, Other chemicals, Plastic & its products, Furniture & Cement are also covered under the scope of this Division. Thus, the spectrum of manufacturing units range from small to large scale industries spread across the country.

This division is mandated to facilitate the exporters by providing information regarding potential markets and products to the stakeholders for the growth of exports from Pakistan. These endeavors succeeded in maintaining the level of overall exports of engineering goods and arresting the declining trend in exports.

The Engineering division maintains a close liaison with the stakeholders and relevant associations, and regularly organizes seminars and workshops for exchange of information, ideas with the view to create awareness and also as a capacity building initiative.