Summary Professional says Pakistan needs to increase trade with ASEAN countries in agriculture sector.
ISLAMABAD:-This region will give us $1 billion per year to our National Kitty said Chief Executive Officer Harvest Tradings, Ahmad Jawad.
Talking to officials of agriculture e-chamber here on Wednesday he said rice, fresh fruits and floriculture sector will be eye-catching products for ASEAN countries’ subject.
We are the fifth largest producer of mangoes, fourth largest producer of dates & rice and thirteen largest producer of citrus.
Ahmad Jawad urged ASEAN & Pakistan must established the working group on Agriculture aims to facilitate promotion of joint research for development of technologies for increasing production and productivity in agricultural and allied systems, efficient management of natural resources, development of joint ventures and exchange of technologies.
ASEAN is consisting of Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei Darussalam, Vietnam, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Cambodia.
Currently we have started the process with Malaysia and Indonesia under Free Trade Agreement in this region, but still a lot of room is available. Failure to do so China will tap in this region 100%.
We capture those markets in which we sustain easily; he said.
Jawad said government must look towards encouraging exports of fresh produce, particularly Kinnow as the season will be started in end of December. There is urgent need to exploit these markets.
Due attention be paid to research and development (R & D) without achieving targets would be difficult.
Pakistan-ASEAN free trade agreement (FTA) must be taken on board, so that it opens a 1.7 billion consumer market to the member countries with a combined GDP of $2.3 trillion.
Jawad retreated that it is time government accelerates its efforts to attain more meaningful market access, Ministry of Commerce may chalk out a detailed plan and hold the exhibition one by one in each country of ASEAN forum, so that their buyers took interest in our products.
