LAHORE – Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) Chief Executive Abid Javed Akbar, while endorsing the stance of Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan, has said that mandatory membership of REAP is very important for exporters to keep whole export process transparent and enhance export volume.
“I am also an advocate of strong exporters associations and trade bodies and think that mandatory membership was fundamental for exporters to keep the process clean. I would take up the issue at forums concerned to review the demand.”
Speaking at a reception arranged by REAP in his honour last late night, he said that REAP which contributes significantly towards Export Development Fund (EDF) has every right to get representation on Quality Review Committee (QRC). He welcomed the REAP efforts of setting up a Rice Technical Institute to produce technically trained manpower for rice sector and assured all-out help in this regard.
He also welcomed the efforts of REAP members to enter in to Chinese rice market and termed China as a window of opportunity. However, he called upon the rice exporters to look in to the reasons of decline in basmati exports and make efforts to enhance it. He said Central Asian States are under the influence of Turkish culture and fragrant Pakistani basmati rice is an integral part of Turkish cuisine. He said this would help our rice exporters to make inroads in these markets and earn foreign exchange for the country.
Trade Development Authority Pakistan (TDAP) Chief Executive announced to develop a focused programme to promote rice exports to Central Asian States.  He said under this programme, the Authority in collaboration with the rice exporters arrange exhibitions to showcase Pakistani rice. He said that he was happy to note that rice exporters were eyeing to achieve $4 billion export goal and TDAP would join hands with them and work together to materialise this dream in to reality.
Abid Javed Akber told the participants that he had served over 10 years abroad and knows that Pakistan was recognised very well due to its basmati rice and hand-knotted carpets.
He said that TDAP always sit together with the stakeholders whenever needed so as to ensure there should be no impediment in the way of exports and exporters to grow.
REAP Vice Chairman Samee Ullah Chaudhry threw light on the issue of Quality Review Committee (QRC) which had been given under the TDAP and said it was working very well under REAP administration but there were complaints of irregularities since its gone under the authority. He also called for reviving the condition of mandatory membership of the Association who intend to export rice. He said that the association also had an arbitration committee, which works very well in case of any issue. He threw light on the efforts being made by the association for enhancing exports and problems they were facing in this regard. He said that the association would soon be leading a 60 member delegation to China to encash the opportunities exist in that market.
Samee said that the association had launched efforts to set up a rice technical training institute to train manpower in post-harvest techniques and value addition. He hoped that the Punjab government would soon give land for this project. He also demanded due share for rice exporters in international exhibitions.