Daily Times

Prime Minister’s adviser on Commerce and Investment Abdul Razak Dawood on Saturday said that Pakistan had attained huge space in global rice market for exporting local rice in potential markets of Middle East, North America and African regions to achieve the target of increasing the agricultural exports.

He said the government intended to take the exports to the highest level ever and for that purpose it was taking different measures to reclaim traditional markets besides accessing new ones. He said that rice delegation from Mexico would hopefully arrives to Pakistan in June to appraise various rice exporters for giving them permission for exporting rice to Mexico. The adviser said the all members of Rice Exports Association Pakistan (REAP) should prepare themselves for this opportunity from visiting delegation of Mexico so that maximum members get order approval in their market.

He said that during past few years, local rice export to Mexico had been held up for some time and after this “I hope that our rice will be able to enter in Mexican market.”

Razak Dawood said that rice was the largest agro-export commodity in the country’s export basket with a total volume of over $2 billion, which would be increased to $5 billion in the next five years.

He demanded of the local rice exporters to introduce new varieties of rice to enhance production and quality by investing in research and development.

Replying to a question, he said that even in current critical situation, the country’s exports increased in food, including meat, poultry, fruits and vegetable, cigarettes especially in Middle Eastern Market as compare to same period of previous year.

Replying to another question, he stressed the need for making preparations to exploit the economic and trade opportunities expected in the wake of post COVID-19 pandemic.

“We perceive and expect more opportunities to promote bilateral trade and strengthen linkage with potential markets including Central European Union, China, Asian States, Middle East and African region besides promoting regional trade in post pandemic environment,” he said.

He said the pandemic would bring a paradigm shift, hence create great opportunities adding the coronavirus had changed the world and now the business processes would be completely different.

“Such difficult period always brings out new opportunities, new products, and new ways of thinking,” he opined.

Razak Dawood said the government was equally focusing on all sectors of economy including textile, non-textile, and agriculture and engineering sectors to build export potential of the country in coming months.

Talking about the external trade situation during the past three months, he said the situation of exports was not good as those had declined in April 2020 by around 54 per cent as compared to the same month of last year and the reason obviously behind the decline was the spread of coronavirus across the world.

Replying to another question, he informed that in last 10 months (July-April) of current fiscal year 2019-20, the overall exports were declined by four percent as compared to the corresponding period of last year.

He said the exports increased by 13 percent in February, however, started reducing from March which had decline the exports by 6.5 per cent as compared to the last year.

However, he said even during the current lockdown situation, in the beginning of COVID- 19 pandemic, Pakistan exported textile and non-textile products while the country’s food exports increased especially in the Middle Eastern market.

Likewise, exports in steel articles also increased in the last three months in the critical situation.

Razak Dawood said the government was prioritizing to promote ‘Made in Pakistan’ policy to boost local production and reduce dependence on import and enhance exports.

While the adviser emphasized the need for exploiting the huge opportunities of increasing exports in the health and safety products like personal protective equipments (PPE) including protective masks, gloves, sanitizers, clothing, helmets, goggles and other garments or equipment designed for protection from COVID -19.

He said a summary in that regard had already been forwarded to the cabinet, while the ministry was also negotiating the future strategy for increasing the exports to help export-led economic growth.

“We should conclude our all strategy and start manufacturing in different sectors to achieve our exports targets,” he added.