Pakistan and Turkey Agree to Expand Rice Trade
Islamabad : Pakistan and Turkey have reached an agreement to enhance bilateral rice trade, focusing on increasing export volumes and offering competitive pricing.
Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan held a key meeting with the Turkish Ambassador to discuss strategies for strengthening trade. The minister highlighted that Pakistan has produced an excellent rice crop this year, with ample exportable surplus. He also noted the pressures of aggressive pricing from competitors like India and Vietnam in the global market.
Pakistan assured Turkey of supplying both Basmati and non-Basmati rice at competitive rates, prioritizing export volume while protecting farmers’ income. The discussions also explored the potential for government-to-government (G2G) rice trade agreements.
The Commerce Ministry emphasized raising the Pakistan Trading Association (PTA) quota by 18,000 metric tons and held detailed talks on zero or low tariffs for Basmati rice.
Both sides agreed to increase business delegations and B2B connections, with technical delegations expected to meet in the coming weeks. Pakistan and Turkey have set a joint target of increasing bilateral trade to $5 billion.
