Govt to focus on diversification of export products: Razak Dawood

• Adviser to PM meets with honey producers, exporters
• Pakistan’s honey exports were $ 6.9 Million in 2018
• Major export to Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait

ISLAMABAD: Adviser to the Prime Minister on Commerce, Textile, Industries and Investment  Abdul Razak Dawood on Tuesday underlined that the current government was focusing on the diversification of export products through policy intervention  by providing technical and financial support.

Adviser to PM on Commerce, Abdul Razak Dawood said this in meeting  with delegation from the honey producers and exporters.

Pakistan is home to some of the most diverse flora and fauna and  produces 20 types of honey due to its varied ecological and climatic  conditions, said a press release issued by Ministry of Commerce.

He said that Pakistan’s exports were $ 6.9 Million in 2018 and its  major export destinations were Saudi Arabia, 70.6 percent, United Arab  Emirates, 15.1 percent and Kuwait percent each. The honey exports  were far below than the real potential especially to the high-end markets,  he added.

He further highlighted that in order to explore the untapped honey  potential of the country there was a need to acquaint the concerned  stakeholders and business community of the honey producing regions  like Abbottabad with the modern production techniques, encouragement,  awareness of the private sector and the most important entrepreneurial  growth and cluster development.

"For this, we need to train our stakeholders so that can comply with  requisite standards and SPS requirements of high-end markets including  EU which will increase our honey export manifold," he said.

He also emphasized that Ministry of Commerce (MOC) would constitute  a product (honey) specific working group comprising of all the stakeholders  including, honey producers, exporters, marketing experts and researchers  to devise a strategy in order to overcome the bottlenecks and to develop  production and marketing techniques that will help boosting the country’s  honey export.

He said the MOC will also provide technical and financial assistance to  honey exporters in local and international markets in order to target high-end  markets like EU.

Further, it will help in developing linkages with local business community, beekeepers and other stakeholders to evaluate the trade potential of this  viable sector, he added.

Advisor to PM said the MOC has formulated Geographical Indication (GI)  Law and E-Commerce Policy which will help SMEs to enhance their exports  through registration of the local honey varieties in international and online  sales.