MTI advices Pakistan on WTO agreement ; taps into SL expert panel

MTI Consulting has just completed an assignment to independently review possible repercussions and opportunities for Pakistan’s economy in case it decides to accede to WTO’s Information Technology Agreement (ITA). 

The scope of the mandate was to evaluate how the liberalization entailed under ITA would contribute to export competitiveness of Pakistan’s IT sector and help it integrate with regional and global supply chains. 

The mandate also included an evaluation of possible impact on employment, revenue collection and access to better IT products for Pakistani entrepreneurs and industry.

The project has been initiated under the Pakistan—Regional Economic Integration Activity (PREIA). PREIA is a USAID funded activity/project which intends to further the development of the country’s trade sector by improving Pakistan’s competitiveness in international markets.  

PREIA is implemented by the private development company, DAI (under one of their integrated solutions, i.e. ‘Economic Growth’. PREIA is closely working with Ministry of Commerce and private sector to generate sustainable and inclusive economic growth by promoting Ecommerce.

 The ITA Information Technology Agreement, initially implemented in 1996 is most significant tariff liberalization arrangement negotiated in the WTO after its establishment in 1995. It has 82 signatories. ITA’s IT product list covers 97 per cent of world trade in IT products. 2015 saw the expansion of the ITA. The agreement was expanded to include an additional list of 201 products.

 MTI’s panel of experts for this project includes Prof. Rohan Samarajiva (former Chair of ICTA), Reshan Dewapura (former CEO of ICTA) and Anushka Wijesinha (International Trade Competitiveness Specialist).  “We wish to acknowledge the contribution made by our International Panel of International Trade Specialists,” said HilmyCa der, CEO of MTI Consulting.