ISLAMABAD: Rice Exporters Association Pakistan (REAP) Chairman Rafique Suleman Friday said that rice export surged 15 percent during July 2017 to January 2018. “We exported 2.28 million metric tonnes of rice amounting to $. 1.06 billion in the current fiscal as compared to 1.971 million metric tonnes amounting to $0.82 billion during the same period in the last fiscal, which shows a significant growth of 29% in terms of value and 15% in terms of quantity, he said while talking to the media. “We have come out of the crisis which we have been observing for the last three years. REAP members are putting their untiring efforts and aggressive marketing to increase rice export and to earn foreign exchange for the country. We have set a target to export more than four million metric tonnes of rice and we are confident that we will be able to achieve $ 2 billion mark.” We have set a target to export more than four million metric tonnes of rice and we are confident that we will be able to achieve the $ 2 billion mark “We are also focusing on European markets as India is set to lose its grip due to the excess limit of pesticide residue found in Indian rice. It will be a good opportunity for Pakistani rice exporters to come forward and grab the market,” he said, and requested the government of Pakistan to extend support and facilitate rice exporters. He said that Kenya was the largest buyer of Pakistani rice and during seven months of the current fiscal year (July to Jan 2018) 284,000 metric tonnes of rice amounting to $102 million were exported. He also voiced concern over the decline in export of rice to China, which was the 2nd largest destination for Pakistani rice exporters. He requested the Ministry of Commerce to highlight the matter during the second round of Pakistan China Free Trade Agreement and obtain maximum favour for Pakistani rice exports. nni Published in Daily Times, February 10th2018.