[해외기고] 한국-파키스탄 FTA 가시화, 인구 2억 시장을 노려라

* ‘아시아엔’ 해외필진 기고문의 한글요약본과 원문을 함께 게재합니다.

[아시아엔=나시르 아이자즈·번역 김아람 기자] 한국과 파키스탄이 수교를 맺은 지 30년이 지났다. 이에 양국은 현재 자유무역협정(이하 FTA)을 포함, 무역 교류를 확대할 방침이다.

지난 7월 파키스탄 산업부 장관이 한국을 방문했을 당시, 양국은 FTA를 논의한 바 있다. 현재 양국은 FTA를 신중하게 검토하고 있지만, 최종 협상까지는 다소 시간이 걸릴 것으로 보인다.

무함마드 와심 보흐라 파키스탄 연방상공회의소(FPCCI) 부회장 겸 이스턴엔터프라이즈(Eastern Enterprises) CEO는 이에 대해 “양국이 FTA를 타결하기까지는 약 4~5년정도 걸릴 것”이라며 “파키스탄은 중국과의 경험을 토대로 신중하게 FTA를 검토하고 있다”고 전했다.

파키스탄은 지난 2006년 중국과 FTA를 체결한 이후 매년 25억달러 상당의 재화를 중국에 수출한 데 비해 중국은 이의 5배가 넘는 12~13조달러의 재화를 파키스탄에 수출해왔다. 이는 파키스탄 산업 전반에 큰 타격을 입혔다.

보흐라 부회장은 “이 같은 무역불균형은 한국과의 FTA에서 일어나지 않을 것”이라며 “양국의 현재 무역량은 약 10억달러 정도로, 한국이 파키스탄에 쌀?·섬유·?의류·?광물·?수공예품 등의 시장을 개방하면 양국 무역량은 훨씬 증가할 것”이라고 덧붙였다.

그러나 현재 양국의 무역량은 감소세에 있다. 송종환 주 파키스탄 한국대사는 지난 3월 파키스탄의 대 한국 수출이 감소하고 있음을 우려한 바 있다. 실제로 지난 2013년 파키스탄의 대 한국 수출은 33%가량, 2014년에는 23% 감소했다. 한국의 대 파키스탄 수출 역시 지난 2013년에는 3%, 2014년에는 6% 가량 소폭 감소했다. 양국의 무역량은 지난 2012년 16억달러에서 2013년에는 13억달러, 2014년 11억7천만달러를 기록했다.

파키스탄 진출 한국기업, 대규모 인프라 프로젝트 적극 참여

무역 감소 추세와는 달리 현재 한국 기업들은 파키스탄에서 활발한 활동을 펼치고 있다. 한국기업들은 전자제품·기계·제지·화학제품 등을 수출해, 파키스탄 2억 인구의 마음을 사로잡았다. 이들은 파키스탄의 도로, 에너지 등 대규모 인프라 프로젝트에도 적극 참여하고 있다. 또한 대한무역진흥공사 코트라(KOTRA) 역시 양국 교류 확대에 심혈을 기울이고 있다.

보흐라 부회장은 양국 경제교류에 대해 “한국은 매년 전세계에 450억달러씩 투자하고 있으며, 그 중 5억달러를 파키스탄에 투자하고 있다”고 했다. 그는 “한국이 파키스탄과 FTA를 맺고 현지 생산을 늘리면, 전세계에서 가장 인건비가 싼 파키스탄 노동력도 활용할 수 있다”고 했다. 또한 “관광시장도 확대될 것”이라며 “파키스탄엔 전세계에서 가장 큰 불교유적인 택실라를 포함한 고대 불교 유적지가 많아 한국 관광객들에게도 매력적일 것”이라고 전했다.

Korea, Pakistan exploring possibilities of Free Trade Agreement
Two republics can benefit by enhancing trade and investment volume: FPCCI official

The two Asian republics – Pakistan and Korea, having bilateral trade and diplomatic relations since over three decades, are exploring avenues including Free Trade Agreement to enhance investment and trade volume.

Both the countries are very much ambitious to sign Free Trade Agreement (FTA) however it will take years to attain the objective, as both the countries have to examine minutely the FTA proposal exchanged by them July this year. Pakistan’s Commerce Minister had visited Republic of Korea in July to discuss bilateral trade and possibilities of FTA.
“It will take at least four to five years, as the process is still at initial stage. The two countries would have to compare trade figures and scrutinize certain other implications before finalizing the matter,” Muhammad Waseem Vohra, CEO, Eastern Enterprises, and Vice President, Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI), the apex trade body of country, told The AsiaN in Karachi.

Vohra said: “Pakistan has to negotiate the FTA carefully in view of its experience with China. Benefitting from zero tariffs under FTA the China exports goods to Pakistan worth 12 to 13 billion dollars annually against Pakistan’s exports amounting hardly to 2.5 billion dollars causing closure of several local industries here.”
“This shouldn’t happen in case of FTA with Republic of Korea,” he added saying that the current trade volume of Pakistan with Republic of Korea is around one billion dollars, which could be enhanced to a great level if the Korea allows access to its market. “There are a number of items including rice, textiles, readymade garments, minerals and handicrafts that could find place in Korean market.”

It may be mentioned here that the Korean Ambassador Dr Jong Song Hwan while addressing the Pakistani textile exporters in March last had himself expressed concern that Pakistani exports to Korea were declining. Similarly, exports from Korea to Pakistan had gone down by three per cent in 2013 and six per cent in 2014 while exports from Pakistan to Korea had decreased by 33 per cent in 2013 and another cut by 23 per cent in 2014.

“Korea and Pakistan are not only good friends but also two leading trade partners but for the last two years this trade partnership after touching the two way trade volume $1.6 billion in 2012 has witnessed downward slide to $1.3 billion in 2013 and further to $1.17 billion in 2014,” he had added.

The South Korean companies are already present in Pakistan. They export electronic items, machinery, spare parts, paper, chemical etc and have captured a wide market of 200 million people. “The role of South Korean companies in Pakistan is commendable as they had been working on several mega projects in energy, roads and other sectors and the Korea Trade Centre KOTRA is playing vital role in enhancing the trade relations between two countries, but more Korean investment is needed here. The Republic of Korea invests 45 billion dollars annually in different countries of the world of which hardly 500 million dollars in Pakistan. This investment volume should be increased besides establishing industries like steel mills, electronics and chemical industries established in India.”

“Establishing industries in Pakistan would benefit Republic of Korea, as it can export its goods to China with zero tariffs under FTA. The Korean companies could also avail the benefit of Pakistani labor, which is cheaper than rest of the world,” Vohra suggested.

Talking about access to Pakistani labor to Korea, the FPCCI official told that the number of Pakistanis working in Korea in 2005 was hardly 7000 and now it might be around 20, 000. “Pakistanis are hard working and talented people who played key role in building Gulf States in early 1970s. They can also contribute towards progress of Korea.”

“The Republic of Korea and Pakistan can also cooperate in the field of tourism,” Vohra viewed saying that Pakistan is home to ancient Buddhist archeological sites and it would attract Buddhists from Korea to visit Taxila, the largest Buddhist Centre and other sites across the country.

The FPCCI official had all the praise for Republic of Korea who developed rapidly. Referring to the Korean Prime Minister’s visit to Pakistan a couple of years back, he said visits of leaders from two countries would help further cement their friendly relations.

Vohra said he had the opportunity to meet Korean Consul General in Karachi at a reception on the occasion of National day of Korea recently, where the envoy showed keen interest in promoting trade between the two countries and Korean investment in Pakistan.