Japan keen to import basmati rice, allows export of mangoes

ISLAMABAD: Japan has shown keen interest in developing mutual agricultural research and importing basmati rice from Pakistan to further strengthen bilateral trade and economic cooperation between the two countries.

Ambassador of Japan Matsuda Kuninori called on Minister for National Food Security and Research Syed Fakhar Imam and discussed ways and means to enhance mutual cooperation in different sectors.

The minister also stressed the need for enhancing mutual cooperation in transfer of technology from Japan particularly agricultural machinery.

He asked for providing market access of Pakistani citrus in Japan based on historical trade of the fruit with China, Russia, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Iran.

He said that cold treatment prescribed in US manual was acceptable to China, Russia, Iran and they have not received non-compliance from these countries. He said that it worked well to eliminate fruit flies from our kinnow (mandarin).

The ambassador mentioned that Pakistani mango was more fragrant and showed interest in the export of basmati rice. Pakistan exported $3.847 million of basmati rice last year to Japan, he added. He also showed interest in developing mutual agricultural research.

He said that Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) Japan had granted market access to fresh Pakistani mango. He added the export of Pakistani mango (Sindhri & Chaunsa) from Pakistan to Japan is underway.

The minister appreciated for facilitating mango exports from Pakistan to Japan by exempting pre-clearance in the wake of COVID-19 outbreak.

The Japanese government has previously acceded to Pakistan’s request and awarded funds to United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) in 2019 for launching a project on ‘Agri-Business and Agro-Industry Development’ with an estimated cost of US $3.02 million.