Rice exporters have sought help from the Prime Minister for release of consignments stuck at Kenyan ports for the last six weeks. Since August 2, 2018, some 600 containers loaded with Pakistani rice have been stuck at Mombasa, Kenyan Port because Kenyan customs linked release of these consignments with 100 percent examination. The consignments were dispatched after the appropriate certification at the loading port by Kenya's recognized agencies such as SGS, Intertek, Bureau Veritas, Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS).
Unfortunately, the Kenyan authorities have insufficient infrastructure to expedite the examination of imported rice. Phytosanitary conditions (Aflatoxin, Pesticides & Microbiology) are being tested in Nairobi and the broken percentage is verified in Mombasa, they informed.
Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) in a letter which it sent to Prime Minister Imran Khan said that rice is the one of the major foreign exchange earning commodity and contributing more than $2 billion annually in generating valuable foreign exchange for the country.
Kenya is the largest destination of Pakistani rice and annual export to Kenya is approximately 0.5 million metric tons amounting to $200 million. REAP has informed that more than 600 rice containers are lying at Kenyan ports since 2nd August, 2018 and despite the various requests and follow-up of Zahid Qadeer, relevant key official at Pakistan High Commission in Nairobi, Kenyan authorities have not given any response nor they have shared the data of Pakistani rice containers with Pakistani High Commission.
The Association has requested Prime Minister to intervene in the matter to resolve the matter and safeguard the country's 2nd largest export trade. "We are considering stopping rice exports to Kenya as they are continually facing difficulties due to sudden policy revision by the Kenyan authorities. We are afraid that if the matter is not resolved urgently, our country's rice export trade will face a severe disaster," the letter of exporters said. REAP has urged Prime Minister Imran Khan for immediate steps for release of stuck consignments, otherwise the country may be deprived of massive foreign exchange.