BEIJING, Dec 27: Major public and private Chinese firms have assured Pakistani exporters of their support in finding a big market for rice. The assurance was extended to a delegation of rice exporters from Pakistan in a meeting with officials of China National Cereals, Oils and Foodstuffs Import and Export Corp (Cofco) and other major Chinese companies.

During the meetings, Cofco officials told Pakistani exporters about ample opportunities of selling their product in the Chinese market, especially long-grain rice.

China, they said, was planning to import 2.3 million tons grain rice this year. But so far its import had been around 400,000 tons. According to an estimate, Pakistan’s annual rice supply to China could be around 50,000 tons.

Pakistan exporters would be required to launch an aggressive and consistent campaign to find potential buyers, a delegation member said.

“We hope to successfully compete with rice exporters from other countries by presenting better quality at a cheaper rate,” he said.

During the visit, the delegation also held meetings with major rice buyers in Shanghai. Free-Banaspati rice-testing was also arranged on the occasion by the Pakistan-General. Major stores in the city expressed their willingness to sell Pakistani rice, it was learnt.

Sources said the prospects for Pakistan’s rice growers and exporters were bright since tariff on agriculture products would come down to zero-level from Jan 1, under the Early Harvest Programme, recently signed by the two countries.

Meanwhile, an official from China’s Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Foodstuffs and Native Produce said that China would encourage import of agro-based products from Pakistan, including rice and fruit. Pakistan, he said, would experience no problem of quota restriction.

The Chinese government has already completed necessary legal requirements to allow import of Pakistani rice and mango from this year. The official hoped the food trade would give a big boost to their economic ties.

Pakistan, it was learnt, would have to make greater efforts to clinch a reasonable share of its food products in Chinese market, since it was a new player in the field. An official of the Pakistan Embassy hoped that private sector would work out a long-term strategy to capture the opportunity. — APP