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Philippines, BD to
import 0.3m tons rice
ISLAMABAD, Feb 27: Philippines has decided to import 250,000
tons of rice from Pakistan while Bangladesh will be importing
50,000 tons of rice very soon.
"We will shortly be calling tenders for the export of 250,000
tons and 50,000 tons of rice to Philippines and Bangladesh
respectively," said Minister for Commerce, Industries and
Production Abdul Razak Dawood. Earlier, he said, exports to
Philippines were banned for being inferior in quality.
He told Dawn that Iraq, which had earlier imported 62,000 tons
of rice from Pakistan, had again asked for more imports, for
which a government team would visit Baghdad shortly.
Razak said that informal trade with India was going on through
Singapore and Dubai, but there was a need to formalise trade
between the two countries. However, he said that there should
be an overall package for political and economic matters so
that normal trade relations could be restored between India
and Pakistan.
"I am in favour of trade with India," he said hoping that
Indian rulers would go for de-escalation on borders to
facilitate adequate trade in the region.
The issue Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to India by
Pakistan, he pointed out, could also be considered once
certain understanding on various issues including that of
Kashmir was achieved between the two sides.
Responding to a question, the commerce minister said that he
was disappointed by only 142 million dollars US market access
package. "This is insufficient and I am not satisfied with
it," he said.
He said European Union (EU) provided better market access
package worth 400 million dollars. "But we will continue to
persuade the Americans for more market access," Razak Dawood
said.
Responding to a question, he said, the Board of Investment (BoI)
will shortly be sending a delegation to America for seeking
new US investment in Pakistan.
Asked about meeting 10 billion dollar export target for 2001-
2002, the minister for commerce said that the government was
hoping to have roughly 9 billion dollars exports due to
various factors including September 11 events and subsequent
increase in the freight charges. But he said that there had
been 40 per cent increase in exports in January this year, and
expressed hopes that this trend would continue. He said that
from July-December exports were down by 1.5 per cent compared
to corresponding period in 2000-2001.
To a question, he said that he would be visiting Japan with
the president on 11 or 13 of March. He was hopeful that Japan
would also provide additional market access along with
ensuring new investment in Pakistan.
The commerce minister said that there existed a big potential
for increasing trade with Bangladesh. In this behalf, he
referred to his recent visit to Dhaka and said that Bangladesh
has expressed its willingness to import different types of 21
products from Pakistan. At the same it was interested in
exporting its tea and jute to Pakistan.
The only problem he said, was inadequate shipping facilities
due to which Pakistani consignments were reaching late in
Bangladesh. This problem, he said, was being removed by
consulting shipping companies and other organisations
concerned.
courtesy Daily Dawn 28
February 2002
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Pakissan.com;
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