ISLAMABAD
Standing Committee of the Senate on Defence Production Wednesday observed that defence exports have shown a considerable increase during the recent years.
The committee met at the Parliament House with its Chairman Khawaja Suhail Mansoor who acknowledged the role of International Defence Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS) held after every two years in bringing improvements in the export sector.
As far as the export data of defence goods was concerned, the meeting was told that the volume of exports during 2006-07 was US $ 63.40 million and the same has increased to US $ 98.30 million during current fiscal.
Hope was expressed at the meeting that defence export figures would improve further after execution of export agreements of Mashahak aircraft and their spares with friendly countries.
The forum was informed that the Defence Export Promotion Organization (DEPO), which is responsible for the promotion of exports of the Defence products, had been facing various impediments on its smooth conduct.
The chair, directed to provide complete data on the exports of goods under the DEPO besides compilation of relevant records by the firms registered with the organization.
It was also directed to the DEPO to cancel the registration of non-performing firms.
The committee was of the view that the private business concerns must be provided an opportunity to interact directly with the foreign visitors to formalize business deals.
It was informed that first ever Suppliers and Vendors Exhibition would soon be organized at Lahore while the second at Gujranwala in the due course.
Both the events would be organized on the basis of public-private partnership with the help of concerned Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
The meeting gave clear directions to the concerned that the prime responsibility of the defence production units of the country was to fulfill the requirement of the country’s defence forces and exports should only be done in the case of surplus production.
The meeting was of the view that the matter for removal of impediments on way to conduct smooth exports may be taken up at the appropriate levels.
