ISLAMABAD: Agriculture ministers of Pakistan and Malaysia will explore the untapped market potential of Halal meat next week in Islamabad in an attempt to meet domestic requirements of both countries and export to neighbouring countries in the region, The News has learnt.
The Malaysian agriculture minister along with a high-level delegation of agro-based industries would meet with his Pakistani counterpart and other officials in the federal capital from Dec 14 to 17 to discuss expanding trade, particularly in Halal meat, an official of the food ministry told The News.
Pakistan and Malaysia have already struck a Free Trade Agreement, but bilateral trade figures are in favour of Malaysia.
Such cooperation will not only go a long way towards balancing trade between the two countries, but will also help Pakistan in fully utilising its agricultural and livestock products.
Malaysia’s exports to Pakistan last year totalled 5.95 billion ringgit while imports amounted to 363.3m ringgit.
Out of 57 Muslim countries, interestingly only Bangladesh, Iran, Malaysia, Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and the UAE are in the business of Halal meat while the rest are net importers of Halal meat from developed countries like the US, China, India, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Australia, Thailand, Kenya, France, Singapore, Spain, the Philippines and the Netherlands.
Besides deliberations on Halal meat, the official said the Malaysian delegation would also sign a memorandum of understanding with a local beverage company and hold talks with officials of the Board of Investment.
Pakistan has 60 million cattle, 55 million goats and sheep and 30 million buffaloes. Besides exporting meat to the Middle East, Pakistan also exports live animals to Central Asia.
Meanwhile, a high-level delegation of the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry and Department of Veterinary Services of Malaysia is currently in Pakistan to ascertain prospects of forging strategic cooperation in the field of agriculture and veterinary services.
The delegation after their arrival in Islamabad on Dec 7 has been holding meetings with representatives of the Ministry of Livestock and Dairy Development and agriculture ministry, and has also been visiting various research institutes including the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Artificial Insemination Centre and Veterinary Research Institute, Lahore.
The delegation will also examine world-class Halal food infrastructure, set up by the private sector and will visit the Livestock Production Research Institute, Okara, and Buffalo Research Institute, Pattoki, besides meeting officials of the Punjab Board of Investment and Trade.
The Malaysian agriculture minister along with a high-level delegation of agro-based industries would meet with his Pakistani counterpart and other officials in the federal capital from Dec 14 to 17 to discuss expanding trade, particularly in Halal meat, an official of the food ministry told The News.
Pakistan and Malaysia have already struck a Free Trade Agreement, but bilateral trade figures are in favour of Malaysia.
Such cooperation will not only go a long way towards balancing trade between the two countries, but will also help Pakistan in fully utilising its agricultural and livestock products.
Malaysia’s exports to Pakistan last year totalled 5.95 billion ringgit while imports amounted to 363.3m ringgit.
Out of 57 Muslim countries, interestingly only Bangladesh, Iran, Malaysia, Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and the UAE are in the business of Halal meat while the rest are net importers of Halal meat from developed countries like the US, China, India, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Australia, Thailand, Kenya, France, Singapore, Spain, the Philippines and the Netherlands.
Besides deliberations on Halal meat, the official said the Malaysian delegation would also sign a memorandum of understanding with a local beverage company and hold talks with officials of the Board of Investment.
Pakistan has 60 million cattle, 55 million goats and sheep and 30 million buffaloes. Besides exporting meat to the Middle East, Pakistan also exports live animals to Central Asia.
Meanwhile, a high-level delegation of the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry and Department of Veterinary Services of Malaysia is currently in Pakistan to ascertain prospects of forging strategic cooperation in the field of agriculture and veterinary services.
The delegation after their arrival in Islamabad on Dec 7 has been holding meetings with representatives of the Ministry of Livestock and Dairy Development and agriculture ministry, and has also been visiting various research institutes including the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Artificial Insemination Centre and Veterinary Research Institute, Lahore.
The delegation will also examine world-class Halal food infrastructure, set up by the private sector and will visit the Livestock Production Research Institute, Okara, and Buffalo Research Institute, Pattoki, besides meeting officials of the Punjab Board of Investment and Trade.
Source: www.thenews.com.pk
