Trade with ASEAN: A billion-dollar market

Jawad urges that Asean and Pakistan must create working groups on agriculture.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan needs to increase trade with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) countries, especially in the agricultural sector, as trade with this region can give us $1 billion every year, Harvest Tradings CEO Ahmad Jawad said in a press statement issued on Tuesday. He said that Pakistan’s rice, fresh fruits and floriculture sector will be attractive products for Asean countries. Jawad urged that Asean and Pakistan must create working groups on agriculture with aims to facilitate joint research for development of technologies that increase production and productivity in agricultural and allied systems. He said that Free Trade Agreements signed with Malaysia and Indonesia are commendable, but a lot of room is still available in tapping regional markets. Jawad further said that government must direct the Pakistan Horticulture Development and Export Company and the Ministry of Commerce to chalk out a detailed plan and hold exhibitions in each of the Asean countries.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 26^th, 2012.