Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) is visiting Australia and Saudi Arabia to increase exports of Basmati rice from Pakistan to these markets.

Australia can be a very important destination for Basmati rice where at present exports from Pakistan is merely 15,000 tons per annum while Indian exporters are capturing the market at a very swift pace, said the REAP Chairman Shahjahan Malik while talking to Business Recorder here on Saturday.

Malik said they are aiming at doubling the basmati rice exports to Australian market during the current year. He said that the Pakistani high commission in Australia is making arrangements for a week-long visit of the 15-member delegation of Pakistani rice exporters during which they will be meeting the big super stores, businessmen and representative of leading chambers of commerce & industry. "Sanitary and Phyto-sanitary standards of Australian industries are very good, so the REAP has planned to take its delegation to some Aussie factories for capacity building and learning to raise our standards," Shahjahan Malik added.