REAP hails govt support for release of containers in Kenya

KARACHI: The Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) has thanked the government of Pakistan for the release of rice containers in Kenya.

Chairperson of REAP Chela Ram Kewlani said this while addressing a press conference on Monday at the REAP House, Karachi. Managing committee members and senior leaders accompanied him. He informed that Pakistani rice exporters sent shipment of Pakistani rice to Kenya, whereas the deadline for duty-free rice was April 6, 2024. Due to the recent situation of the Red Sea, shipping companies took the diverted route to Kenya, which took extra days to reach the Mombasa port in Kenya.

Approximately 1,300 containers of rice (34,611 m/tonnes) were stuck at Kenyan ports. REAP timely intervened, Convener of REAP’s Committee on Kenya Rafique Suleman flew to Kenya. With the support of the Pakistan High Commission in Nairobi (Kenya), he coordinated with Kenyan government officials including HE Mithika Linturi from the agriculture and livestock development and Dr Paul Ronoh, principal secretary of the state department for agriculture, for the release of these rice containers.

REAP appreciated the role of Commerce Minister Jam Kamal; Federal Secretary Commerce Sualeh Ahmed Faruqui and his team at Mincom; Chief Executive of the TDAP Zubair Motiwala and his team; Ambassador of Pakistan in Kenya Ibrar Hussain; and Commercial Counsellor at the Pakistan High Commission, Nairobi (Kenya) Ms Adeela Younis for their excellent coordination with the Kenyan government through diplomatic influence.

The Kenyan government has now agreed to release these containers and also extended the duty-free deadline till 30th November 30, 2024 under which it will import a maximum of 500,000 tonnes. This will be beneficial to enhance rice exports from Pakistan to Kenya.