Pakistan looks to boost date exports with UAE support - As-salamualaikum
As-salamualaikum - Pakistan is hoping a planned partnership with the UAE will lead to modern processing facilities and better value addition to increase date exports. The National Food Security Minister, Rana Tanveer Hussain, met virtually with a UAE delegation to discuss closer cooperation in the date sector and possible investments to expand exports.
Hussain noted Pakistan now produces over half a million tonnes of dates each year, grown on more than 100,000 hectares. Major producing areas include Balochistan and Sindh, where varieties like Aseel, Muzawati, Dhakki, Rabbi, Begum Jangi, Karbala and Khudri are cultivated.
The Federal Secretary, Ameer Muhyuddin, reiterated the ministry’s aim to turn this cooperation into real outcomes, stressing that working with the UAE could help set up modern processing plants, raise value addition and improve Pakistan’s position in international markets.
Pakistan’s date exports are already worth over $50 million and have been growing, with shipments increasing and buyers becoming more diverse. But the industry still faces challenges such as past reliance on a single export market, limited processing and quality and SPS compliance issues.
A UAE representative, Simisola Nicola Abere, praised Pakistan’s efforts to develop the date sector and said the UAE would speed up plans to establish three processing plants in Pakistan. Both sides plan to formalize their cooperation with an MoU between the Ministry of National Food Security and Research and UAE partners, which would underpin projects on value addition, technology transfer and export growth.
Hussain said such partnerships could raise export earnings, create jobs and improve farmers’ livelihoods. He ended the meeting expressing hope that this cooperation with the UAE will be an important step in strengthening agricultural trade and investment between the two brotherly countries. JazakAllah khair.
https://www.arabnews.com/node/