Surgical industry seeks govt help in own brand developin

Sialkot: The surgical industry of Sialkot has sought the help of government for promoting the own brand developing of surgical instruments and the easy access of surgical instruments manufacturers and exporters to the international markets.

Talking to the newsmen here Friday, Chairman Surgical Instruments Manufacturers Association (SIMA) of Pakistan Waqar Ameen said that more than one century old surgical industry of Sialkot was in dire need of modernization and adopting the positive steps for advanced standers of international marketing and brand developing could help to save the surgical industryIs otitanic from sinking. He said that both of these sectors (own brand developing and international marketing) still remain ignored by the local manufacturers and exporters due to the alleged slackness of governmental institutes meant for promoting the trade and enhancing the national exports. Due to which this industry was remaining far behind than the developed countriesI surgical industries as well, he added. He revealed that it was tragic to say that the SialkotIs surgical industry was more than one century old. Its 90 percent products are exported but its annual exports have never crossed the figures of US $ 261 annually during this century and till now.

He said that the Sialkot based surgical manufacturers and exporters have enough potential to capture the international markets of hospitals related surgical items, having market of US $ 1 billion, if government properly patronizes this industry, which has only 1 percent share in this world market consumption. He urged the local manufacturers and exporters to focus on the diversification of traditional to non-traditional exports with a sole aim to meet the global trade challenges in this WTO Regime. He narrated oIt is the high time that the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) and other relevant authorities should come forward and con! sider on the points of own brand developing through adopting the modern standards of international marketing, which could help the surgical industry of Sialkot-Pakistan to increase its declining annual exports to US $ 400 million. The surgical industry has urged the government to provide the advanced machinery (worth of Rs. 30 million) from Export Development Fund (EDF) for the capacity building of surgical industry. This machinery would be installed Surgical Instruments Manufacturers Association (SIMA) of Pakistan, where a Common Facility Center would also be established for modernizing the surgical industry. He urged the government to ensure the early provision of this important advanced machinery to the surgical industry. SIMA Chairman added that surgical exports from Sialkot-Pakistan were showing the declining trend due to some unavoidable energy crisis, rising mark up ratio by the banks and unending non-availability of the skilled labour force to surgical industry. Surgical association has also planned to soon hold the training workshops of the surgical instruments manufacturers and exporters motivating them to focus on the importance and procedure of the Brand developing in surgical industry. Government should announce a special subsidy for this purpose, Chairman SIMA added.