Pakistan becomes third largest rice exporting country: TDAP

Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) Chief Executive Syed Muhaibullah Shah has said that Pakistan becomes the third largest rice exporting country in the world. Talking to a private news channel, he said Pakistan was the 12th largest rice producer in the world, however, due to best marketing and value-addition, the country had achieved this position in the international markets.
He pointed out that country's rice exports remained the second largest foreign exchange earner for the country after cotton. "This is a great achievement and country's rice sector achieved this position despite global recession, financial crunch and a very tough price competition in the international markets," he added.
He said the rice exporters adopted best strategy and explored new markets all over the world, and advised the rice exporters to focus more on Asian and African markets to increase their exports. He pointed out that purchasing power in Asia was increasing and those markets could be more attractive for rice exports in future. "We should also focus the African markets, which have huge potential for our commodities mainly for rice exports", he added.
He said the TDAP would fully cooperate with Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (Reap) to achieve the four billion dollars rice export target under Vision 2012. Reap Chairman Abdul Rahim Janoo said the country's rice exports had touched 1.96 billion dollars mark on June 19, and it was expected that the figure would cross 2.1 billion dollars mark by the end of this fiscal year.
He pointed out that rice exports was the only sector, which continued its positive growth during the current fiscal despite various issues and challenges including global recession, financial crunch, bumper crop in all rice producing countries and price competition in the world markets.
"Our rice production is almost the same, however, we earn more foreign exchange every year due to 18-20 percent value-addition every year", he said and expressed his hope that the country's rice exports would touch the four billion dollars mark under Vision 2012.