Commercial sections unaware of country’s stone potential

[Naveed Yaseen]

By Razi Syed
KARACHI: The absence of competent commercial attaches at the Pakistan missions in China, Russia and Jordan is causing huge losses as around 90 percent businessmen in these countries are not aware of Pakistan’s large stone deposits and its status as a potential supplier to the world.

All Pakistan Marble Mining Processing Industry and Exporters Association (APMMPIEA) said Tuesday the authorities prepare policies without prior consultation with relevant industry and then expect from the business community to mould according to the policy.

Former chairman APMMPIEA, Sanaullah Khan said around 90 percent of the people related to this sector in these countries were still not aware of the fact that Pakistan is one of the largest exporters of marble in the world. He said there was a need to create awareness to develop export potential of the country in foreign missions. The commercial officers in Pakistan missions are unaware of the quality and potential of exports and needs of importers in these countries as they are not recruited on merit, he lamented

He said even they were unaware of the function of Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) and new about avenues for trade and investment in these countries vital for boosting the competitiveness of Pakistan’s economy.

Khan said China has been a leading buyer of Pakistan’s Black and Gold Stone, Indus Stone called as Yellow Jhangshahi, excavated in Sindh besides Onyx blocks from Pakistan. He said China is a huge consumer rather than a marketplace only. The stone blocks are exported to China where they are processed to slates or tiles before being exported again. He said stone events Expo Stone Moscow from June 23 to 26 and East Expo, Jordan from May 4 to 7, 2009 were offering an excellent opportunity for promoting exports as the reconstruction of Iraq offers a big opportunity for exports from Pakistan.

Project Near East Expo 2009 in Jordan is the combination of two mega projects, Project Rebuild Iraq and Project Jordan.

This covers construction equipment, building materials, electrical engineering, power generation, lighting and HVACR and equipment and tools etc.

In view of the Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) of Jordan with the USA, EFTA States, Preferential Trade Agreement with Singapore, and its easy access and trading relations with the neighbouring countries Jordan itself offers excellent prospects for exporters of Pakistani goods both for local consumer as well as exporters. He demanded that TDAP should call the genuine private sector exporting bodies in order to seek their suggestion in forming strategy to tap these markets.

He asked TDAP and Pakistan Stone Development Company (PASDEC) to revitalise their policies in consultation with the concern ministries in order to inform the world about the Pakistan’s potential in the sector. A large number of exporters have already participated in the Rebuild Iraq Expo’s held in Jordan in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008.

According to estimates, there are 160 million tonnes of marble and more than 414 million tons of granite reserves in the country, out of which 98 percent are in NWFP

Mining and quarry contribute nearly 0.6 percent to Pakistan’s Gross Domestic Products (GDP) with an estimated value addition of Rs 2.4 billion. Pakistan get only 1 percent share in world total production. The process of extraction of marble and granite is very out dated and obsolete. We still use explosives to blast the blocks resulting not only in a high wastage (up to 73 percent), but also smaller stone size.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp...2009_pg5_9