A high profile delegation of Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) will visit Indonesia to market Pakistani rice. REAP has also planned a grand Biryani Festival in Indonesia, in which different rice dishes will be made with Pakistani rice for the participants to promote the Pakistani rice. Indonesia is a very potential market for Pakistani rice as it imports approx one million metric tons rice annually from various regions.
During August, a high profile delegation from Indonesia visited Karachi and had meetings with the representatives of REAP and Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP). Various matters related to increase the bilateral trade were discussed during the meetings. In this regard, recently a REAP delegation led by Abdul Rahim Janoo met with Chairman TCP and other senior officials of TCP to develop a strategy for rice promotion in the Indonesia. On the occasion, Noman Ahmed Shaikh Senior Vice Chairman REAP, Rafique Suleman Ex-Chairman REAP and Abdul Rauf Chappal newly elected MC Member REAP were also present.
During the meeting, various proposals were discussed to increase the rice exports from Pakistan to Indonesia and it was mutually decided to send a high profile REAP delegation along with TCP to Indonesia in the October, 2016.
It was also decided that during the visit, a grand Biryani Festival will be organized and different rice dishes made by Pakistani rice will be presented on the occasion to the participants to promote the Pakistani rice. Rafique Suleman, former Chairman REAP, toldBusiness Recorder that previously, REAP has successfully organised such Biryani Festivals in 14 countries of the world, as this is very instrumental to introduce the Pakistani rice among the people of buying countries.
"This is one of the main reasons that rice exports from Pakistan which were only $300 million have been surged to about $2 Billion annually and such growth has never seen in any other commodity in the history of Pakistan," he added. REAP delegation, during the visit of Indonesia, along with Chairman TCP will also have meetings with the top officials of various ministries and government departments particularly with the officials of BULOG, the state owned department, he informed.
As currently only government to government (G to G) trade is being done by Indonesia and efforts will be made to export Pakistani rice through exporters, he said. REAP will also sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Indonesian importers for export of rice. "We are hopeful that after the visit of this delegation, rice exports from Pakistan to Indonesia will be increase with a remarkable ratio," Rafique said.