Pakistan seeks trade accord with Indonesia

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Food and Agriculture Nazar Mohammad Gondal has said that Indonesia offers a rich and potential market for Pakistani citrus fruit and Irri-6 rice which could be optimally utilised once the two countries sign a preferential trade agreement (PTA).

The minister said this while talking to Ishak Latuconsina, Ambassador of Indonesia in Pakistan. “We call for an early conclusion of the PTA which will prove to be a win-win situation for both of us. Export of our oranges to Indonesia has dropped drastically owing to the increased customs duty there,” he added.

Gondal said that a palm oil extracting plant has been set up in Thatta with the help of Malaysia that would be functional by the end of June. He invited the ambassador to visit the site and motivate the Indonesian business community to invest in palm oil production in Pakistan.

The ambassador asked Gondal to participate in a ministerial conference to be held on March 11 in Bali on the occasion of fourth session of the governing body of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 8^th, 2011.