Pakistan ready to build institutional linkages with Maldives

ISLAMABAD (APP) - Federal Minister for Food and Agriculture, Nazar Muhammad Gondal has said that his ministry is ready for building institutional linkages with the Maldives Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and assisting its people in building their capacity in agriculture.
He said that the students from Maldives would be offered short courses and other programmes. Gondal said that his ministry would work on exporting Halal meat, rice, fruits like mangoes, kinos, etc.
He said at meeting with Maldives High Commissioner to Pakistan, Shehenaz Adam who called on the federal minister here at his office today.
The Minister directed that proposal drafts about the potential areas for trade must be exchanged between the two countries so that a MoU could be worked out and signed in near future.
He also added that the Maldives Minister for Agriculture & Fisheries would be officialy invited to visit Pakistan and identify the areas where Pakistan can help and assist Maldives. The Federal Minister said that Pakistan produces about 4m tons of surplus rice and the best quality of Basmati in the world is a production of the country, which could be exported to Maldives.
The Maldives High Commissioner, Her Excellency, Shehenaz Adam showed her keen interest in the export of rice, fruits (especially mangoes and kenos), garments and other agriculture related items to her country. The High Commissioner added that Maldives imports all most every thing from abroad and Pakistans help in this regard would be most appreciated.
She also thanked the federal ministers for his cordial and positive response to the Maldives request for cooperation in the field of agriculture and showing interest in the export to Maldives.
The Federal minister presented the traditional Sindhi Ajrak to the visiting guest and thanked her for her for the productive visit.
Maldives is a small country of 300 thousands only and 50pc of its GDP is earned through the tourism industry. It imports all most everything from abroad and its local production is almost zero.
There is no university in Maldives and the country depends on self-sponsored and foreign assisted scholarships and training courses.