Exports to India: TDAP to form group to conduct in-depth study

Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) to constitute a group to conduct an in-depth study on Indian market to prepare a list of potential commodities and products that can be exported to India, and prepare a methodology to encash this opportunity.
This group comprising expert researchers would interact with all the stakeholders, including rice exporters to study Indian market, said TDAP Chief Executive Tariq Iqbal Puri while speaking at a reception organised by the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) the other day.
REAP Chairman Javed Islam Agha and many others also spoke on the occasion. Puri also invited the rice exporters to have a special meeting with the Indian Commerce Minister, visiting Pakistan next month, to find out a solution on Basmati ownership, prices and other related issues through joint brainstorming with their Indian counterparts.
Replying to the queries of rice exporters, TDAP chairman admitted that at present this trade needed quality seeds to produce good yield. He said that all the stakeholders would have to sit together taking this single item agenda. He admitted that government research institutes at Kala Shah Kaku or Ghotki had failed to work int that direction. He urged the exporters to constitute a team or committee, which would start working on war footing for producing quality seeds.
He suggested that seed development task should be given to the private sector and incentives should be announced for the scientists who would produce required seed. "Incentives should be declared prior to assigning this task as it will encourage our scientists to work with zeal," he said.
A REAP member Zahid W. Khawaja proposed to explore the possibilities of entering into a Counter Trade Agreement with Iran on mutually preferential terms for purchase of oil and sell of agricultural products including rice without the need for any hard currency. Tariq Puri assured his all-out help in this regard and said that a delegation could also be taken to Iran along with the Secretary Commerce to materialise this proposal. TDAP Chief Executive also agreed with the proposal of same member for focusing on China and Russia besides some other similar countries for export of Basmati rice.
He said that incomes and purchasing power of Chinese and Russian people was increasing and Pakistani exporters should work hard to make inroads into these markets. He observed every product from Pakistan could be sold in Chinese market. He also agreed with the proposal of making Rice Inspection Cell more effective and achieving any international accreditation for it so as to ensure its certification is accepted by the importing countries world over.