Islamabad: The annual production of rice of Pakistan is about 6.5 million tons and Pakistan is earning foreign exchange of US dollars two billion annually with the export of rice to over 100 countries of the world.
This was disclosed by Rafique Suleman Senior Vice Chairman Rice Export Association of Pakistan in a meeting with Consul General of Japan Toshikazu Isomura held in Karachi on Thursday. Secretary REAP Altaf Hussain Shaikh was also present on this occasion.
During the discussions, Rafique Suleman apprised him about the good rice crop of Pakistan and added that due to quality rice, its demands is all over the world. He said since last many years, rice export trade has been facing severe decline and REAP has been working with Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) and Ministry of Commerce for improving rice export trade and this year good results are coming after several steps. He said rice exports to Japan is very negligible and REAP is planning to send a trade delegation to Japan for the marketing and promotion of Pakistani rice and requested Consul General for his assistance in this regard.
The Consul General of Japan informed that around 100,000 citizens from South Asian countries including Pakistan, India, Nepal are living in Japan and REAP must take steps for increase of Pakistani basmati rice. He said that bilateral trade between both the countries is around US dollars 2 Billion and still there is a good potential and scope to increase it. However, trade balance is in favour of Japan and Government of Pakistan must take steps to increase the export trade to Japan.
Rafique Suleman informed him that REAP will coordinate with embassy of Pakistan in Japan as well as TDAP and initiate measures to send a trade delegation to Japan to increase Pakistan’s market share there. The Consul General of Japan assured his full support to REAP in this regard.
