FCCI President praises plan to organise ‘FoodAg-2023 Exhibition’

FAISALABAD: Food & Agriculture Exhibition will catalyze the efforts for optimal agriculture production, pave way for the value addition industry at the grass root level and thus open new avenues of surplus food products on sustained basis, said Dr. Khurram Tariq, President Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FCCI).

He was addressing an awareness session about FoodAg-2023, to be organized by TDAP from 10-12 August in Expo Centre Karachi. “280 exhibitors from 55 countries are expected to participate in it while more than one hundred products would be displayed and 500-800 foreign buyers are expected to attend it”, he said and added that FCCI members must participate in it to enhance Pakistan’s contribution in global food basket.

He said that executive committee member Azhar Chaudhry was already in touch with TDAP to streamline the operational matters regarding this expo. “However, we must be clear about its strategic aspects before attracting serious exhibitors, participants and buyers in addition to convincing investors to launch joint ventures.

He said that on one side Pakistan was facing shortage of food and we are importing various food items worth $8bn. On the other hand, we are going to export our agricultural products and there is a clear contradiction between our demand and supply chain.

He said that well before the start of the exhibition TDAP must issue a final list of products with their domestic and international demand and price. “It would help us to make accurate estimates to meet our domestic needs and export only surplus produce to earn foreign exchange”, he said and added that in the absence of a basic date, we may create shortage of commodities in our domestic market.

Similarly, TDAP must identify measures to increase per acre yield with value addition in collaboration with foreign investors through enhanced linkages.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2023