KARACHI: Agribusiness Support Fund (ASF) under the USAID’s Agribusiness Project (UAP) recently held a consultative Acclimatization Talk event in Islamabad, as they launched Pakistan’s first National AgriBusiness Forum (NAbF).
This event was the final in a series being held across Pakistan; the first one was held at LUMS in Lahore and the second one at the IBA in Karachi.
At the talk it was discussed that the broad objective of the NAbF is to provide a cohesive platform for all agri players in Pakistan, at the micro, meso and macro levels, and introduce to the key stakeholders how the NAbF will provide the ideal platform for learning on the status of agribusiness, exploring business opportunities and identifying potential partners and investors, while creating the necessary linkages and facilitate the passages whereby Agribusiness and all related secondary industry will be represented at one platform through ASF-USAID Agribusiness Project.
At the talk it was discussed that the Umbrella NAbF will provide a voice to policy level concerns, and 20 Value Chain Platforms will form the pillars through which incubation for innovative pilot projects, utilizing a value chain approach, will be implemented. Mrs Munawar Humayun, Chairperson ASF, made the introductory remarks followed by Dr Kevin Gallagher, country representative UN-FAO to highlight the importance of the NAbF.
Presentation on competitiveness of the Agri sector was given by Dr Mahmood Ahmad and Ms Aeyesha Gulzar presented the concept of the National AgriBusiness Forum and the way forward. Representation from across Pakistan was provided by key members of the Agriculture Departments of the provinces, processors, growers, businesses, academia and local and international organizations. During the interactive discussion, led by Mr Tariq Mohar, COO, Tameer Bank, Director Business Development, Shezan International, GM Agribusiness, Engro Foods, Head of Research, Business Recorder and President grape growers Association Baluchistan among others, it was highlighted that the NAbF will work together with all stakeholders and aim to integrate all the links in various agri-based value chains among different sectors focusing on horticulture, dairy and fisheries.
Dr Micheal Wyzan, Deputy Director, office of Economic Growth and Agriculture, USAID, in his closing remarks emphasized how the creation of the NAbF will help to send out a cohesive message to represent the Pakistani agriculture sector to the world. Other participants included representatives from the World Bank, UN-ILO, SRSP, RSPN, Business Recorder, Lahore Compost, Samson Food processors, Hashoo Foundation, Star Farms, Malaysian Palm Oil Council, among others.
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