The Government Trading Corporation (GTC) of Iran has floated a single-stage international tender inviting to buy 20,000 tons of Pakistani Super Basmati Rice. The last date of submission of bids is June 12, while the required quantity of the rice has to be shipped in two separate cargoes of 10,000 metric tons each between June 17, 2018 and July 18, 2018, disclosed the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) sources.
It may be mentioned here that a REAP delegation headed by its Chairman Samee Ullah Naeem visited Iran this April to discuss the issues related to the resumption of rice exports from Pakistan, which nosedived after international sanctions, implementation of currency swap agreement and the condition of good manufacturing practices (GMP) certification with Iranian authorities.
They held meetings with the GTC which is affiliate of Iranian Agriculture Ministry and other government departments for resumption of rice export from Pakistan to Iran. Iran used to be 800,000 tons Pakistani basmati rice market until sanctions were imposed in 2010 and exports drastically reduced to barely 60,000 tons only.
While talking to Business Recorder here on Wednesday, REAP Chairman Samee Ullah Naeem welcoming the Iranian tender said that the Association would fully support the exporters who would go for this tender. "We will ensure that this tender should not go un-served and exporters are pooling to submit a bid by the due date," he added.
Nevertheless, Samee termed unavailability of a formal banking channel between the two countries as the biggest barrier to boost exports. However, he said that in this case REAP will fully support its members and ensure that they will get their payment in time. We had a very fruitful meeting with our leading exporters in this regard and hopeful to meet the Iranian demand, he said.
He said that exporters from Pakistan just need a push but if the government could not establish a formal banking channel even then they would go for it. He said that sanctions does not apply on food and medicines and they as private sector had shown courage to knock at the door of a traditional market, which was lost. He questioned if Thailand, India and United States can export rice to Iran then why not Pakistan.