KARACHI: Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan’s high profile trade delegation is on visit to Sri Lanka for promoting and marketing of Pakistani rice in Sri Lanka.This delegation comprises leading rice exporters as well as small and medium level rice exporters, said a press release issued here on Tuesday. During their visit, the delegation would have meetings with concerned Ministries officials as well as the officials of Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and National Chamber of Commerce and leading rice importers.
The delegation had a meeting with Chairman, Cooperative Wholesale Establishment (CWE) Muhammad Rizwan Hameem, which is the state body responsible for the procurement of rice from various origins. The CWE also issues tenders for the procurement of rice.
Rafique Suleman had a discussion with Chairman CWE for the possibilities to increase rice imports from Pakistan. During the meeting, Janbaz Khan, Deputy High Commissioner of Pakistan and Adnan Lodhi, Commercial Secretary were also present.
Rafique Suleman also had discussion with Sri Lankan Government officials to reduce the heavy import duty imposed on Pakistani ‘Long Grain’ rice. Pakistani rice is very much liked by Sri Lankan people and a good quantity of Pakistani rice has been exported to Sri Lanka since many years.During last fiscal year 2016-17 Pakistan has exported 36,000 Metron rice valueing dollars 16 million. But since year 2015, a decline is being observed in the export figure.
The main reason for decline is that Sri Lankan government has included Long Grain rice as a luxury item and imposed a heavy duty on it. Please note that Pakistan rice is Long Grain, however, there are two separate categories of Pakistan Long Grain rice. One category is Basmati rice, in which Super Basmati, Pk-385, PK-198/D-98 etc are included.
This variety is premium quality rice and may be added in luxury item. whereas another category is coarse varieties, which is called non-basmati rice (Irri-6, Irri-9 etc). These rice varieties are comparatively cheaper than Basmati rice and famous in common people of Sri Lanka and average price of these varieties are between dollars 325 to dollars 400 per 40 Kg.
