Madagascar's Minister for Industry and Trade Oliver Andrianarison Sahbisoa said on Saturday that his country urgently needed 250,000 tons of rice.
He was speaking at a luncheon meeting with Pakistani exporters arranged by the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB). Vice-chairman EPB Abid Javed Akbar presided over the meeting, which was attended by leading exporters of rice garments, fresh fruits and wheat flour.
Sahhisoa said he would request Pakistan government to help his country in overcoming this food crisis as well as provide economic support.
"I will request Pakistan government to provide rice to my country on urgent basis at an affordable price," he added. He said that he would also propose the Pakistan government to sign a new framework of bilateral relationship with Madagascar to promote economic and trade relations.
"We want to build up relations with Pakistan on a long-term basis and promote bilateral trade," Sahbisoa said. He said stability has returned to his country and economic activities are increasing.
Speaking on the occasion, all rice exporters, including vice-chairman Reap Anwar Mianoor and Akbarali Hashwani, said that they were ready to provide rice to Madagascar at the competitive prices. However, they said that freight rates were rising exorbitantly and this would increase the cost of shipment. They urged Sahbisoa to resolve this matter.
The minister opined that joint ventures in various fields, including textiles and food items, could help in promoting trade and investment between Pakistan and his country.
Earlier, EPB vice-chairman said that in Madagascar a vast potential existed for increasing bilateral trade.
He pointed out that import of Madagascar was estimated at 920 million dollars of which Pakistan's share was 17 million dollars during 2003-2004.