Australia, Pakistan exploring avenues to expand agribusiness

ISLAMABAD: A delegation of Australian pulses producers concluded their three-day visit to Pakistan after exploring opportunities for increased pulses trade and production with Pakistani businesses and importers.

The delegation attended the Pakistan Pulse Conclave 2018 in Karachi hosted by the Pakistan Pulses and Importers Association (PPIA) and also met with the Pakistan Pulses Importer Association Punjab Chapter and Karachi Grocers and Wholesale Association, a message received here said.

The 13-member delegation from the Pulse Association South East (PASE), Fletcher International and Special One Grain and Full Business Spectrum was led by the Australian Government’s Trade and Investment Commission.

Welcoming the visit, the Australian High Commissioner to Pakistan Margaret Adamson highlighted that Pakistan was Australia’s second largest destination for pulses exports, with trade valued at AUD465 million in 2016-2017.

“Australia and Pakistan are actively exploring avenues to expand trade and investment, particularly in agribusiness where Australian expertise is world class. Australia is the only country located in the southern hemisphere from which Pakistan increasingly imports pulses. This visit by Australian pulses producers provides an excellent platform for such activities to grow and for Pakistan-Australia bilateral trade to further strengthen,” High Commissioner Adamson said.

Pakistan is a regular importer of agricultural food commodities including chickpeas, lentils and canola oil seeds with pulses being a major staple food in Pakistan. On average, Pakistanis consume 6-7 kg pulses annually.

The Australian Center for International Agricultural Research is also engaging with government-level policy makers in Pakistan for better productivity, profitability and harvesting of pulses through training and capacity building of farmers and traders.