Trade: MoC signed to enhance fruit exports

Silk Route can take Pakistani products to Russian and European markets.

KARACHI: To explore new markets for the horticulture sector, the Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters, Importers and Merchant Association (PFVA) has signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) with the International Association of Silk Route Trade (IASRT) Kyrgyzstan to strengthen bilateral trade.

The MoC was signed after a three-day international conference held recently in Islamabad. The conference was attended by dignitaries, businessmen and exporters from seven countries of South and Central Asia.

The MoC was signed by PFVA Chairman Abdul Malik and the IASRT head who said that the two associations would work for exploring trade opportunities in the region especially horticultural products which would ultimately benefit millions of people across farms and factories.

Elaborating the importance of trade with Central Asian states, PFVA spokesperson Waheed Ahmed said that Pakistan could earn over $400 million through fruits and vegetable exports and value added fruit pulp to Central Asian markets.

According to him, the Central Asian states are not only a lucrative market for mango, kinnow, potato, onion, value added products of fruits, palm oil, meat and rice but the route could also lead Pakistani products to Russian and European markets.

Pakistan has the advantage of land links with strategically landlocked countries of the region. He said that visiting importers and traders of the sector from Commonwealth countries have shown a keen interest in Pakistani fruits, vegetables, technology and expertise in processing food. They were also interested in getting help from Pakistan in the fruit processing and packaging area.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 19^th, 2014.

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