China renews licences of 279 seafood firms

Pakistan’s seafood exports to China top $167m, up 41%

BEIJING:

The General Administration of Customs of the Peoples Republic of China (GACC) has renewed the registration of 279 Pakistani seafood exporting companies, enabling them to continue to send shipments to the Chinese market, Pakistan Embassy Commercial Counsellor in Beijing Ghulam Qadir revealed.

“With the efforts of the Pakistani mission, the Chinese authorities have renewed the registration of companies which was going to expire later this month,” he told APP.

According to official data, Pakistan’s seafood exports to China topped $166.56 million by the end of last year, registering an increase of 41%.

Qadir voiced confidence that seafood exports from Pakistan would continue to rise in the coming days.

The China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement (CPFTA) has helped Pakistan make inroads into the Chinese market as seafood exports are growing day by day in the wake of the trade pact.

Many Pakistani seafood exporters were enjoying zero tariffs and at the same time they were getting more and more aware of the details of CPFTA, he remarked.

Recently, “we registered new species under the second phase of CPFTA, which helped ramp up exports to China,” the commercial counsellor said. “We are negotiating with GACC to add more species to our seafood export list.” Qadir pointed out that many Pakistani seafood traders were seeking to deepen collaboration with their Chinese partners in an attempt to enhance exports by using the latest Chinese technologies, techniques and best practices.

It takes only 10 days to ship a consignment through the land route to China while the sea route takes 28 days.

The short journey saves shipping time and protects product quality. As China is the second largest consumer market, it welcomes exports of more high-quality Pakistani goods.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 2^nd, 2023.

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