ISLAMABAD, June 1: Indonesia is likely to reduce customs duty on import of kinoo from Pakistan, says Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar Khan.

Addressing a ‘kinoo gala’ held here on Wednesday to celebrate an all-time high record of around 200,000 tons of export during the current year, the minister said an Indonesian trade delegation was due to arrive in Pakistan on June 14 for discussing the proposed preferential trade agreement.

“I would try to include kinoo in the proposed list of duty concession. I will try to bring the duty from the current 25 per cent to the level available to Asean member countries, including China,” the minister assured the growers.

Indonesia is one of the major markets for Pakistan’s kinoo, which alone consumes around 40 per cent of Pakistan’s export of the commodity.

Mr Khan said in the next trade policy more measures would be announced to help increase the export of horticulture products. The minister said that his ministry would finance the certification required for the export of kinoo to European Union member countries.

The minister said the successful conclusion of the Doha Development Agenda would have good results for developing countries farmers who would be able to get actual price of their commodities in the international market.

Regarding a proposal for the establishment of agriculture processing zones, the minister said his ministry would provide monetary assistance for the zones in case there was no difficulty in getting lands for the purpose.

The minister asked the growers and exporters to further increase their share in total export of kinoo and promised that his ministry would provide preferential market access to all countries, including India. However, he clarified that trade negotiation with India was linked with the development in other areas as well.

Horticulture Development Export Board Chairman Afaq Tiwana said the board would try to further increase the production of kinoo besides other horticulture products.