Ethiopia envoy invites rice exporters

Says exporters can invest in Africa’s agri-sector, transfer technology

KARACHI:

Ethiopia’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Jemal Beker Abdula has urged Pakistani rice exporters to explore the Ethiopian market by joining the trade delegation flying to the African nation on March 5.

“Rice exporters of Pakistan will get an opportunity to connect with the right people in Ethiopia by taking part in the trade delegation, which includes subsidised airfares and accommodation at a five-star hotel, visits to industrial sites and above all meetings with the top leadership,” he said.

In a meeting with the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) on Tuesday, he said that Pakistani exporters could penetrate the markets of Africa by investing in the agriculture sector and transferring technology to Ethiopia.

However, REAP needed to develop a strategic framework to better compete with the competitors, who were selling quality rice at affordable rates.

“The rice exporters can play their due role in boosting exports by shipping edibles to the markets of East Africa,” said the ambassador.

REAP Senior Vice Chairman Haseeb Khan, while briefing Beker on the rice export potential, said “there was a strong appetite among exporters to explore other markets”.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 15^th, 2023.

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