Trade Development Authority of Pakistan

What Trade Development Authority of Pakistan does

Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) is a statutory body of the Government of Pakistan, established on November 8, 2006, under a Presidential Ordinance, succeeding the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) which had operated since 1963. Headquartered in Karachi with 16 offices across Pakistan, TDAP is mandated under the Ministry of Commerce to take a holistic view of global trade development rather than narrow export promotion. It facilitates and part-funds Pakistani exporters and importers through market research, trade fair coordination, trade delegations, capacity-building programs, and statutory services including Certificates of Origin and GSP certificate processing. Its service beneficiaries include over 20,000 historically facilitated exporters spanning textile, leather, engineering, minerals, agro-food, pharmaceutical, and services sectors, with MSME and women entrepreneur cohorts as priority segments.

TDAP operates as a platform of interconnected digital portals rather than a unified software product. Core digital infrastructure includes the Pakistan Exporters Directory, Pakistan Export Gallery, Pakistan Trade Portal, Pakistan Pharma Trade Portal, Women Entrepreneurs Division portal, GSP Scheme Portal, Pakistan Single Window, and an Online Booking System. Physical infrastructure centers on the Karachi Expo Centre (6,690 sq.m base area, multiple halls, parking for 2,400 cars). The organization maintains dedicated divisions for Textile & Leather, Agro & Food, Engineering & Minerals, Trade Facilitation, Services, Women Entrepreneurship, and International Markets Development (split across Americas/Europe and Asia/Africa/Oceania), and coordinates with Pakistani commercial missions abroad.

As a government authority, TDAP does not have a commercial pricing model; services are delivered free of charge or at nominal government-determined fees to Pakistani exporters and importers. GTM motion is direct service delivery via regional offices, supplemented by exhibition coordination, webinar programs, and the National Exporters Training Programme (NETP). Revenue is not commercially generated; the organization operates on annual government budget appropriations, with recent fiscal disclosures indicating expenditures in the low billions of PKR alongside flagged financial irregularities. TDAP has formalized over 20 domestic and international MoUs covering chambers (FPCCI, RWCCI oversight), financial institutions (MCB, First Women Bank, EFP), sectoral bodies (SMEDA, PASDEC), regulators (CCP), research bodies (AERC), and international counterparts (JETRO, CCPCT, ITPO Iran, VIETRADE, ICE Italy, CBI Netherlands, Belarus CCI, Bangladesh EPB, KazInvest).

Name

Trade Development Authority of Pakistan

Legal name

Trade Development Authority of Pakistan

Website

https://tdap.gov.pk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) is a statutory government body under the Ministry of Commerce, established in 2006 to facilitate and part-fund Pakistani exporters through market research, trade fairs, delegation coordination, and certification services across a 16-office national network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Trade Development Services

NAICS

Regulation, Licensing, and Inspection of Miscellaneous Commercial Sectors (92615), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Trade Compliance, Standards & Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT/SPS) (BPADAMAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Trade Facilitation, Customs & Border Regulatory Cooperation (BPADANAG), Digital Development & ICT4D / GovTech Technical Assistance (BPADAEAL)

Keywords

• Trade facilitation services
• Export promotion services
• Trade policy research
• International trade exhibitions
• Certificate of origin

Headquarters

HQ city

Karachi

HQ country

Pakistan

HQ region

Asia

Offices16 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

TDAP is Pakistan's government-mandated trade development authority that facilitates and part-funds exporters through organizing international trade exhibitions, hosting incoming and outgoing trade delegations, operating digital trade portals, providing market research and intelligence, running the National Exporters Training Programme, issuing Certificates of Origin and GSP certificates, and managing the Karachi Expo Centre. It serves Pakistani exporters, manufacturers, MSMEs and women entrepreneurs across textile, leather, engineering, minerals, agro-food and services sectors, with coordination extending to Pakistani commercial missions abroad.

Product overview

Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) is Pakistan's premier government trade promotion organization, succeeding the Export Promotion Bureau in 2006. TDAP operates as a platform of interconnected portals and services rather than a unified software product. Its core digital infrastructure consists of multiple web-based platforms including the Pakistan Exporters Directory, Pakistan Export Gallery, Pakistan Trade Portal, Pakistan Pharma Trade Portal, Women Entrepreneurs Division portal, GSP Scheme Portal, and Karachi Expo Centre management system. These platforms are complemented by physical services including trade facilitation, market research reports, exporter training programs (NETP), international exhibition coordination, and certificates of origin issuance. The organization maintains regional offices across Pakistan and manages international market development divisions for Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania regions. TDAP does not offer a public API for third-party integration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Karachi Expo Centre: A permanent exhibition facility operated by TDAP in Karachi for trade promotion events.
• TEXPO
• National Exporters Training Programme (NETP)

Products and services

• Pakistan Exporters Directory
• Pakistan Trade Portal
• Pakistan Pharma Trade Portal
• Karachi Expo Centre (KEC)
• Women Entrepreneurs Division Services
• Certificate of Origin Issuance Service
• GSP Scheme Certificate Processing Service
• National Exporters Training Programme (NETP)
• TEXPO (Textile & Leather Exhibition)
• Pakistan Single Window
• Pakistan Export Gallery

Quantifiable outcome

• Pakistan's exports increased from under US$ 0.25 billion in 1963 to US$ 16.5 billion in 2005/06 during EPB era
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Muslim Commercial Bank (MCB)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 April 2026MCB and TDAP formed a strategic partnership aimed at bridging financial gaps for SMEs in Pakistan. The partnership addresses key barriers including high borrowing costs and stringent collateral requirements, and will develop specialized financial tools including tailored SME financing products to accelerate export diversification.
• SMEDA (Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 February 2026SMEDA and TDAP resolved to advance an Implementation Cooperation Framework Agreement to provide on-ground support to Pakistan's MSMEs, helping them scale up and become export-ready. Both organizations committed to regular coordination and periodic reviews, focusing on training, access to finance, and export enhancement measures.
• Belarus Chamber of Commerce & IndustryminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2025International MoU for trade promotion between Pakistan and Belarus through bilateral chamber cooperation.
• First Women Bank LimitedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoU between TDAP and First Women Bank Limited to support women entrepreneurs in international trade and export development.
• FPCCI (Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoU Between TDAP and FPCCI for collaboration on trade promotion activities, policy advocacy, and stakeholder engagement.
• CCP (Competition Commission of Pakistan)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoU between TDAP and CCP for cooperation on competition policy and trade matters.
• PASDEC (Pakistan Stone Development Company)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoU between TDAP and PASDEC for development and promotion of stone/minerals sector exports.
• EFP (Export Finance Pakistan)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoU between TDAP and EFP for providing export financing facilitation and financial services to exporters.
• AERC (Applied Economics Research Centre)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoU between TDAP and AERC for research collaboration on trade economics and policy analysis.
• CSC (Chamber of Small Commerce)minorMoU between TDAP and CSC for supporting small commerce and entrepreneurs.
• PTDC (Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoU between TDAP and PTDC for promotion of tourism sector exports.
• ITPO Iran (Iran Trade Promotion Organization)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMoU between TDAP and ITPO of Iran for trade promotion and business linkages between the two countries.
• Kazakhstan (KazInvest/Qaz Trade)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMoU between TDAP and KazInvest/Qaz Trade with BOI for trade promotion between Pakistan and Kazakhstan.
• JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMoU for trade promotion between Pakistan and Japan through JETRO.
• VIETRADE VietnamminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMoU for trade promotion between Pakistan and Vietnam through VIETRADE.
• CCPCT (China Council for the Promotion of International Trade)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMoU between TDAP and CCPCT for trade promotion and business cooperation between Pakistan and China.
• CBI NetherlandsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMoU for trade promotion between Pakistan and Netherlands through CBI.
• Bangladesh EPBminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMoU between TDAP and Bangladesh EPB for bilateral trade promotion.
• ICE ItalyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMoU between TDAP and ICE Italy for trade promotion between Pakistan and Italy.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• ITPO (Iran Trade Promotion Organization): Iran's national trade promotion organization operating under the Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade. TDAP holds a cooperation MoU with ITPO for bilateral trade promotion, reflecting equivalent mandate and regional positioning.
• CCPIT (China Council for the Promotion of International Trade): China's national trade promotion body that organizes exhibitions, trade delegations, and bilateral cooperation forums. TDAP maintains a strategic MoU with CCPIT for China-Pakistan trade cooperation, indicating direct functional equivalence.
• KOTRA (Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency): South Korea's government-affiliated trade and investment promotion agency. KOTRA serves a comparable role in supporting exporters, organizing trade fairs, and managing international trade offices, making it a benchmark peer for capability and infrastructure.
• JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization): Japan's government-affiliated trade promotion agency with a mandate nearly identical to TDAP's: supporting domestic exporters, attracting foreign investment, and coordinating trade delegations. TDAP has a formal cooperation MoU with JETRO.
• VIETRADE (Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency): Vietnam's national trade promotion agency under the Ministry of Industry and Trade. TDAP has a cooperation MoU with VIETRADE for bilateral trade facilitation, making it a close comparator on mandate and government-affiliated structure.
• CBI (Centre for the Promotion of Imports from Developing Countries): Netherlands-based agency that supports exporters in developing countries access European markets. TDAP has a cooperation MoU with CBI, indicating functional overlap in market access facilitation, training, and export readiness programs.
• ICE (Italian Trade Agency): Italy's government trade promotion agency supporting Italian exporters and facilitating international trade. TDAP's MoU with ICE positions it as a European peer with matching responsibilities in exhibition coordination and trade development.
• Export Promotion Bureau of Bangladesh: Bangladesh's national export promotion bureau with a textile and RMG-heavy exporter base similar to Pakistan. TDAP has a bilateral MoU with Bangladesh EPB, making it a close peer in geography, sector focus, and institutional design.

Others

• SMEDA (Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority of Pakistan): Pakistan's sister government agency focused on SME development. While SMEDA addresses domestic SME scaling rather than trade promotion, its 2026 MoU with TDAP makes it a key ecosystem partner rather than a direct competitor.

Regional players

• QazTrade (Kazakhstan Trade Promotion Center): Kazakhstan's national trade promotion body. TDAP's MoU with KazInvest/Qaz Trade reflects regional alignment on Central Asia market access, though the operational scale and geography differ.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/tdap_official
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCQQtthEfVgwKc3BffPKqiLA
• Facebookfacebook.com/tdapofficial
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tdapofficial
• Instagraminstagram.com/tdapofficial/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles20 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Trade Development Authority of Pakistan