Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) is planning to take trade delegations to Saudi Arabia and Australia during the next calendar year in a bid to boost Pakistani rice exports to the two nations.

'Saudi Arabia is one of the biggest buyers markets for Pakistani rice. Currently, it is importing around one million tons of rice out of which 70 per cent is Basmati and this figure can be enhanced substantially provided both the public and private sector make concerted efforts,' said REAP Chairman Shahjahan Malik while talking to Business Recorder here on Thursday.

REAP has decided to send around 18-members Trade Delegation to enhance rice export to Saudi Arabia at the end of January 2020. It will be the second delegation under Shahjahan Malik as he took first such delegation during his tenure as Senior Vice Chairman too.

Shahjahan said that they are planning to visit Jeddah, Riyadh and Dammam and holding Biryani festivals there to showcase Pakistani rice's taste, aroma and potential to the big buyers.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019