KARACHI (January 10 2004): A 16-member delegation of Pakistani rice exporters will leave for Nairobi on Saturday to boost export of IRRI-6 to Kenya and Tanzania, exporters said here on Friday.

The delegation will meet officials and businessmen in both the countries to boost export of coarse rice in African region where demand is very strong for the staple food these days.

Former chairman Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) Abdul Rahim Janoo who is leading the delegation, said on Friday that Kenya is a big market for Pakistani rice and there are big possibilities to expand it further.

He said that Kenya imported 450,000 metric tons of IRRI-6 during 2002-2003, of which Pakistan's share was about 126,000 tonnes.

During the six months of current fiscal year, Pakistan has exported about 62,000 tonnes of rice, he added.

Janoo said that bright chances were existing for Pakistani rice exporters in Tanzania as this eastern African country has eliminated the import duty on IRRI rice from October 2003.

He pointed out that Pakistan's exports of rice to Tanzania was limited to only 10,000 tonnes against its total import of 300,000 tonnes last year.

Janoo was of the opinion that the visit will yield better results as African countries were demanding more rice these days, pushing up international prices for rice.

He said Pakistan has a sufficient stock of IRRI-6 rice while the international prices were rising on strong African demand.

He said the Pakistan was selling IRRI-6 at $ 190 to 200 per metric ton while India at about $ 220 per ton.

According to the six-month export data compiled by the Federal Bureau of Statistics, Pakistan's rice exports has recorded an increase of 28.52 percent to $ 308.715 million.

The export of basmati rice registered a rise of 35.96 percent to $214.463 million during July-December 2003.

The total quantity exported was estimated at 903,756 tonnes of which basmati rice totalled 419,283 tonnes during first six months of current fiscal year. in atta price, on the other.

Courtesy Business Recorder