Pakistan’s rice exporters delegation signs MoU with JCCI
The Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) and the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry ( JCCI) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for a long-term collaboration.
Mazen Batterjee, vice chairman of the JCCI, along with its members of the food committee, welcomed the rice exporters’ delegation from Pakistan before the signing ceremony.
Batterjee said such visits are necessary to increase bilateral trade, commerce and investment and that the MoU is a milestone toward achieving this objective.
He assured the JCCI’s support toward efforts of the Pakistani Consulate in achieving this goal.
Shah Jahan Malik, vice chairman of REAP, who is heading the Pakistani delegation, said the visit was fruitful. He expressed confidence that they would be able to increase their share in the Saudi market.
The exporters were in Jeddah on the first leg of their visit to the Kingdom. The 14-member joint delegation of REAP and Pak-Saudi Joint Chamber of Commerce & Industry (PSJCCI) is visiting Saudi Arabia from May 11 to 19 as part of trade promotion activities to increase export of rice to the Kingdom.
The delegation members visited major supermarkets and hypermarkets, and held meetings with their top management officials. They also met with major Saudi rice importers in the western region in a one-onone business networking session organized by the Pakistani Consulate.
Mian Mehmood, president of the PSJCCI, said: “Saudi Arabia is our major trading partner in the food sector. It imports over $1 billion worth of rice every year, providing great opportunities for our rice exporters and REAP to further increase the share of Pakistani rice in this market.”
He added that the PSJCCI is playing a vital role in promoting trade in all sectors between the two countries.
Pakistani Consul General Shehryar Akbar Khan expressed hope that the exporters will fully utilize the opportunities being offered by the Saudi market and make the rice export trade successful.