‘US can fulfil Pakistan’s processed food needs’
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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@Knotty: Worry K(not)ty! We here can easily meet this minscule demand. Just worry about how you'd pay!
I think we should develop those products by ourself. So instead to export raw material to other countries and import ready to eat and packaged product from same countries we should developed products here or asked US and other countries to setup plant and infrastructure here.
Why not develop the facilities in Pakistan to match those "Hight Quaity Standards of US" instead of importing.
What about purchasing power of masses ?
I was in the US recently and it was all over the news that the US is suffering from the worst drought in history and in a few months time food prices will shoot up and become unbearable for ordinary people. . Farmers have already sold their cattle but next season, meat prices will also be unbearable for them. . Aren't these empty promises from the US? They will be unable to fill their domestic demand in a couple of months!