Global Rice News

KARACHI: The Sultanate of Oman’s Consul General, Eng. Sami Abdullah Al Khanjari, has praised the high quality of rice from Pakistan, stating that Oman imports 60 percent of its rice from the country. He expressed the desire to further increase this percentage and also urged the business community in Karachi to explore the possibility of exporting onions, potatoes, lentils, and mangoes to Oman, as the country is currently facing a shortage of onions and other agricultural products.

Oman has been importing rice from Pakistan since 1982 and values the country as a reliable source of high-quality rice. However, the Consul General also encouraged the export of other Pakistani products, such as sugar, textiles, towels, and other goods, to Oman, as these are currently being imported from other countries including Türkiye, China, India, and Australia.

A meeting was held at the Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry between the Omani delegation and Pakistani officials, including Vice Consul General Abdullah Jumah Al Harbi and representatives from the Omani Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Water Resources. The President of KCCI, Iftikhar Ahmed Sheikh, and other members of the chamber were also present.

During the meeting, the Omani Consul General expressed Oman’s interest in collaborating with the business community in various sectors of the economy to promote bilateral trade between the two countries. He highlighted the importance of regular expos and trade delegations to facilitate better understanding and explore opportunities for expanding trade.

The officials from the Omani Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Water Resources also extended an invitation to the business community to visit Oman and explore opportunities for trade, not only with Oman but also with African countries. They expressed a desire to visit Pakistan annually to identify potential products for export to Oman.

President KCCI, Iftikhar Ahmed Sheikh, emphasized the need to enhance trade between Pakistan and Oman. He suggested reducing trade barriers, diversifying the range of products, simplifying customs procedures, promoting SMEs, and fostering business collaboration to boost economic integration between the two countries.

Ahmed Sheikh also highlighted the potential for Omani investment in Pakistan’s coastal ecosystem, which spans approximately 1000 km of coastline. He mentioned the Special Economic Zones in Karachi and Gwadar, which offer lucrative opportunities for Omani investors, particularly in sectors such as energy, agriculture, livestock, IT, and minerals.

The President of KCCI also emphasized the importance of training and deploying skilled Pakistani workers to Oman, as this would benefit both countries by boosting Pakistan’s foreign exchange earnings and providing high-quality human resources to Oman.

In conclusion, both parties agreed on the need for people-to-people contact, the exchange of trade delegations, and participation in each other’s exhibitions to further enhance bilateral trade and strengthen economic ties between Pakistan and Oman.

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