KARACHI, Sept 12: Minister of state and chairman Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) Tariq Ikram on Friday set up a five-member committee to sort out issues relating to rice brand development programme, as suggested in the Trade Policy 2003.

In a meeting, in this regard, the rice exporters and the EPB chairman discussed the issue of definition of brands and their registration locally as well as globally.

Tariq Ikram assured that the EPB would fully support and follow the recommendations made by the committee and would also recommend bearing of 50 per cent of brand registration and its promotional cost for the SMEs.

Accordingly, a five-member committee, three from rice exporters, Akbarali Hashwani, Arshad Khaliq and Amin Bakali and two from the EPB, was announced.

The chairman Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) Abdul Rahim Janoo who led the rice exporters delegation speaking on the occasion suggested that the procedure for brand development and its registration should be simple and easy.

He said that there are all categories of rice exporters, including small and medium size, and as such the procedure and application for registration of trade mark and brands should be simple as well as affordable for SMEs.

The convener of the Small and Medium Enterprises (Unisame) Zulfikar Thaver appreciating the brand development programme, however, pointed out that it would be a costly for SMEs and requested the chairman, EPB, to arrange the cost of overseas registration out of Export Development Fund.