‘US can fulfil Pakistan’s processed food needs’

American agricultural attaché meets Karachi businessmen.

KARACHI:


Pakistan should import high-quality food products from the United States in larger quantities to meet its domestic demand, a senior representative of the US government said on Thursday.


Talking to a group of local businessmen in a meeting organised at a local hotel, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Senior Agricultural Attaché David L Wolf said the US can fulfil Pakistan’s demand of packaged food items and beverages, as it had a variety of global brands.

He added that American food products were prepared in accordance with the requirements of global markets. Therefore, they will be fit for consumption for all segments of society across different age groups, he said.


USDA Agricultural Counsellor Richard T Drennen briefed the guests about the current level of imports from the US in the food sector. He said that the US was one of the biggest suppliers of food products and beverages to scores of countries, including Pakistan. He also made a presentation describing the potential of the restaurant industry and issues faced by retail and wholesale businesses with regard to the imports of food and beverages.

US exports of dairy products, eggs and honey to Pakistan have grown at an annual rate of 56% since 2007. The worth of US exports to Pakistan in this segment was $38 million in 2011. Similarly, US exports of edible fruit, nuts, peel of citrus fruit and melons to Pakistan have increased by 65% per annum between 2007 and 2011.

Oil and animal and vegetable fats formed a major product group in which US exports to Pakistan in 2011 stood at $62 million. Other major products in the food and beverage category that the US exports to Pakistan every year include cereals, gums, resins, vegetable saps and extracts, meat, fish and seafood food preparations, and sugars and sugar confectionery.

They also explained the fact that direct imports of food items from the US was not possible, as there were issues of repackaging and sourcing from the United Arab Emirates.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 22nd, 2012.
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