The Senate was informed on Wednesday that the government is exploring feasibility of preferential trade agreements with different countries to enhance exports of garments and other textile related products.

Commerce Minister Amin Fahim told the house that exhibitions are being organised at the local and international levels to showcase Pakistani products.

He said Pakistan's agro products have witnessed an increase of 19.9 percent, from 12.5 percent, during last five years and earned $4.9 billion in foreign exchange from export of agriculture products during the last financial year.

He said that a skill development plan has been worked out to cover the gap of skilled manpower in the country.

About trade with China, he said efforts are going on to enhance trade volume with different countries including China.

Fahim said that China is a time-tested and all-weather friend of Pakistan and meetings at different levels are underway to increase the trade volume between the two countries.

He said relations with India have improved and it has announced to support Pakistan's bid to get increased access to EU market.

To increase exports of readymade garments and other textile products, he said, initiatives for greater market access through local and foreign exhibitions and meaningful participation of national and international buyers are also taking place.

He said that TDAP has participated in 11 international exhibitions of textiles and its products till September 2011 and plans to participate in twelve more international exhibitions in the succeeding months.

"The TDAP has organised six exhibitions of Pakistani trade delegations in Tajikistan, China, Malaysia and Indonesia till September 2011", he added.

He said that skill development plan to increase supply of efficient human resource to improve compatibility with the new technology is also top priority of the government.

In this regard, he said, TDAP holds periodical awareness workshops and training programs.

"TDAP, in collaboration with CPI (Centre for Promotion of Imports), Netherlands, also organises workshops in Karachi, Lahore, Faisalabad and Islamabad every year.

The objective of these workshops is to create awareness on market intelligence and research on home textile and garment market in EU", he added.

Focus on exploring the feasibility of Preferential Trade Agreements (PTAs) and Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) to enhance garments export with Singapore, Indonesia and Brunei are under process.