Pakistan, being a new member of the London-based International Sugar Organisation (ISO), can benefit from the experiences of the organisation in various fields of sugar production.
This was stated by ISO executive-director Dr Peter Baron who called on Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar Khan here on Tuesday.
Dr Peter also informed that the ISO will consider requests from Pakistan for conducting studies on any subject relating to sugar industry in Pakistan from ISO resources or from Common Fund for Commodities.
Humayun Akhtar welcomed Dr Peter on his first visit to Pakistan after Pakistan became member of the organisation in 2002.
Dr Peter Baron informed the minister that the ISO is the inter-government body established under the auspices of United Nations Commission on Trade and Development (Unctad) and its vision is to be the "first best" provider of comprehensive information to the global sugar community.
ISO also provides its members high quality market analysis, economic research and statistics that satisfy their needs. It also helps in furthering debate and deliberation on all matters impacting global sugar community.
The meeting was of the view that sugar industry in Pakistan can become competitive through increase in per acre production of sugarcane, improvement in the working of sugar mills for higher recovery and diversification of sugar industry for various uses like production of ethanol, electrical energy, bio-gas and pharmaceutical products.
Dr Peter invited the minister to attend international sugar council meeting in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, in the last week of April.
The commerce minister informed Dr Peter that Pakistan will benefit from offers of the ISO.
The meeting was also attended by Pakistan Sugar Mills Association chairmen Iskandar Khan.