ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s food and agro-sectors exports to UAE in 2015 have touched the half-a-billion dollars mark, which compares extremely favourable to 2012 sales of $362.4 million.
According to Gulf News, Dr Saeed Qadir, commercial counsellor at the Consulate General of Pakistan in Dubai has said that food exports from Pakistan to UAE have increased by 27 per cent over the last two years.
Pakistan has boosted sales of its traditional agricultural products while simultaneously expanding its reach into new product areas such as processed meat and poultry products, tea, concentrated milk and cream, certain fruits and vegetables, spices, herbs and confectioneries, he added. Dr Qadir said that Pakistan’s revitalized food and beverage agricultural industry is now ready for a major export push at Gulfood 2016. He said the 21st edition of the world’s largest annual food and hospitality trade event being held in at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) from February 21 to 25. “More than 90 Pakistani companies are due to take part in a Gulfood 2016 International Exhibition”, he added.
According to the report, the representation of Pakistani companies at Gulfood has grown from a mere 90 square metres in 2008 to 1,000 square metres this year, reflecting the emergence of a major exporting sector that is now challenging textiles as Pakistan’s main foreign exchange earner, with worldwide sales topping $5 billion last year.
Data released by global macroeconomic research firm, BMI International, shows Pakistan remains a buoyant market for consumer sales, as well as food and beverage investment.
The firm is forecasting a 9.9 per cent per capita compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in food consumption until 2019, a 3.2 per cent per capita CAGR growth in domestic soft drink sales and a 9.5 per cent per capital CAGR in mass grocery retail sales. Rice remains Pakistan’s leading food export to the UAE, with TADP figures showing sales to the UAE growing eleven-fold to top $207.8 million over the last two years.
Meat and processed frozen food is another important growth sector for Pakistani exports, crossing the $100 million-mark in the last three years. The Pakistan pavilion at Gulfood 2016 will feature among 117 national and trade association pavilions – five more than last year – with first-time group participation on the part of Russia, Costa Rica, Belarus and Mauritius. New Zealand returns to event after a six-year break.
