Rice exporters to visit Mozambique next month

A trade delegation of rice export will visit Mozambique next month to explore new export opportunities there and other surrounding African countries. While chairing fifth meeting of Federation Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Standing Committee on Rice Exports, Rafique Suleman Chairman Committee said the delegation aimed at capturing not only the market in Mozambique but the surrounding African countries as well including Madagascar, Zimbabwe, Zambia and even South Africa.
The trade delegation would be comprised leading rice exporters to market the Pakistan Bastmati and Irri rice and expected to travel in the first week of September, he added. He requested FPCCI to support the delegation through Shaikh Khalid Tawab, Senior Vice President, FPCCI, who also holds the position of Honorary Consul General of Mozambique.
Rafique assured that the delegation would go a long way in exploring new opportunities for rice exporters in Southeast African market. Furthermore, he suggested that there should be a trade delegation to Afghanistan to promote bilateral trade between the two countries.
He informed the meeting that quantity of total rice exports for last year had increased from previous year as during the last fiscal year Pakistan had exported some 4.2 million metric tons with major exports of non-basmati rice. "Slight decline in the export was due to tenders and auctions of the rice stock in Thailand as well as surplus of stock led to a reduction in prices of rice in Pakistan which eventually reduced the total value of export of rice as compare to last year," he added.
Chairman committee said that to promote Pakistani commodities, government should grant wheat and flour as gifts and donations to other countries along with rice as well since they were already in a surplus. He also emphasised on the need of a proper banking channel with Iran to increase bilateral trade between both the countries. He hoped that visit to Mozambique would create new export opportunities for Pakistani Rice traders, besides earning more foreign exchange for the country.
During the meeting Rafique appreciated efforts of Abdul Rahim Janoo, Chairman, FPCCI, Standing Committee on Fairs Exhibitions & Delegations on his commendable performance and extraordinary services to FPCCI as well as REAP. Javed Jillani, Senior Vice Chairman, FPCCI, Standing Committee on Rice Exports also appreciated the services of Janoo towards the promotion of rice exports and credited him as one of the most influential businessmen of Pakistan. The meeting was attended by Zulfiqar Ali Shaikh, Vice President, FPCCI; Javed Jillani, Senior Vice Chairman, FPCCI, Standing Committee on Rice Exports, Mumtaz Shaikh and Hamid Hussain Qureshi.