Rice exporters eye big deals in Saudi Arabia

ISLAMABAD: Rice exporters of Pakistan are expecting to fetch big deals in Saudi Arabia during their visit to the Kingdom from May 11 to 19.

A 14-member joint delegation of Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) and Pak-Saudi Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PSJCCI), headed by Shah Jan Malik, vice chairman of REAP, is visiting Saudi Arabia as part of the trade promotion activities to increase exports of rice to Saudi Arabia.

According to the Consulate General of Pakistan, Jeddah, Shehryar Akbar Khan, consul general of Pakistan, has appreciated the initiative taken by the rice exporters of Pakistan, and expressed the hope that these measures would support Pakistan’s efforts to increase rice exports to the Kingdom.

He said the consulate is making an extensive programme for the delegation, which includes meetings with Makkah and Jeddah chambers, business-to-business networking session and meetings / visits to the leading supermarkets and hypermarkets of the western region.

Pak-Saudi Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Mian Mehmood said Saudi Arabia imports over $1 billion worth of rice every year, making great opportunity for REAP to further increase exports.

The joint chamber is playing a very vital role in promoting trade in all the sectors between the two brotherly countries, he added. Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) vice chairman Sheikh Mahzen Batterjie has welcomed the visit of the delegation and said such bilateral visits are necessary to increase the bilateral trade, commerce and investment between the two countries.

The delegation members expressed confidence that they will meet their objective and the visit will be fruitful. They said there is tremendous scope for the export of Pakistani basmati to Saudi Arabia because of its supreme quality, unique aroma and taste.  This is the reason why Pakistani basmati is very popular worldwide, including Saudi Arabia. REAP has been making efforts to promote Pakistani rice, which has resulted in exponential increase in the popularity of the produce across the world, the delegation members added.