ISLAMABAD, Feb 27: Philippines has decided to import 250,000 tons of rice from Pakistan while Bangladesh will be importing 50,000 tons of rice very soon.
“We will shortly be calling tenders for the export of 250,000 tons and 50,000 tons of rice to Philippines and Bangladesh respectively,” said Minister for Commerce, Industries and Production Abdul Razak Dawood.
Earlier, he said, exports to Philippines were banned for being inferior in quality.
He told Dawn that Iraq, which had earlier imported 62,000 tons of rice from Pakistan, had again asked for more imports, for which a government team would visit Baghdad shortly.
Razak said that informal trade with India was going on through Singapore and Dubai, but there was a need to formalise trade between the two countries.
However, he said that there should be an overall package for political and economic matters so that normal trade relations could be restored between India and Pakistan.
“I am in favour of trade with India,” he said hoping that Indian rulers would go for de-escalation on borders to facilitate adequate trade in the region.
The issue Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to India by Pakistan, he pointed out, could also be considered once certain understanding on various issues including that of Kashmir was achieved between the two sides.
Responding to a question, the commerce minister said that he was disappointed by only 142 million dollars US market access package. “This is insufficient and I am not satisfied with it,” he said.
He said European Union (EU) provided better market access package worth 400 million dollars. “But we will continue to persuade the Americans for more market access,” Razak Dawood said.
Responding to a question, he said, the Board of Investment (BoI) will shortly be sending a delegation to America for seeking new US investment in Pakistan.
Asked about meeting 10 billion dollar export target for 2001- 2002, the minister for commerce said that the government was hoping to have roughly 9 billion dollars exports due to various factors including September 11 events and subsequent increase in the freight charges.
But he said that there had been 40 per cent increase in exports in January this year, and expressed hopes that this trend would continue. He said that from July-December exports were down by 1.5 per cent compared to corresponding period in 2000-2001.
To a question, he said that he would be visiting Japan with the president on 11 or 13 of March. He was hopeful that Japan would also provide additional market access along with ensuring new investment in Pakistan.
The commerce minister said that there existed a big potential for increasing trade with Bangladesh. In this behalf, he referred to his recent visit to Dhaka and said that Bangladesh has expressed its willingness to import different types of 21 products from Pakistan. At the same it was interested in exporting its tea and jute to Pakistan.
The only problem he said, was inadequate shipping facilities due to which Pakistani consignments were reaching late in Bangladesh. This problem, he said, was being removed by consulting shipping companies and other organisations concerned.