June 26, 2003	Thursday	Rabi-us-Sani 25,1424

KARACHI, June 25: Kenyan High Commissioner Mohammad Omar Soba on Wednesday said there was great scope for Pakistani goods in Kenyan market as they could well compete against costlier imports from other countries.

Speaking at a luncheon meeting organized by the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP), the commissioner suggested that Pakistani exporters should establish their offices in Kenya as their presence was needed to ensure interaction with Kenyan businessmen.

Mr Soba said REAP should plan a delegation to visit Kenya in the first week of August and hoped that this would help resolve a number of problems facing businessmen of both the countries. The high commissioner said he had advised chambers of his country to visit Pakistan and met their counterparts.

EPB vice-chairman Tariq Puri on the occasion said Pakistan was setting up a warehouse in Kenya, which would be beneficial for both the countries. He said the EPB planned to organize a conference in Kenya.

REAP chairman Abdul Rahim Janoo drew the attention of the Kenyan high commissioner to a number of problems faced by the exporters. He also gave some suggestions to help promote trade between the two countries.

He appealed to the Kenyan government to review the decision of imposing 35 per cent import duty on Pakistani rice and suggested that it should be treated on a par with Indian exports at zero rate.

Mr Janoo also drew the attention of the high commissioner to the visa issue and said that a multiple visa to Pakistani rice exporters along with their family members should be arranged within a minimum possible time. He said this would also help promote tourism in Kenya.