BIZ TODAY REPORT
KARACHI/DUBAI: Biz Today International and Nutra Solutions organized a first ever food summit on “Food for Future” at Marriott Hotel Karachi on Thursday, 12 January, 2023. Naeem Khanani, CEO Nutra Solutions welcomed the guests and highlighted the importance of exploring and debating food for future for Pakistan. His Excellency Dr .June Kuncoro Hadiningrat, Consul General of the Republic of Indonesia in Karachi discussed the topic food for thought for food for future.
Mr. Zubair Motiwala ,CEO TDAP highlighted the importance of Import substitution and export of value added products from Pakistan to support Pakistan’s Economy. Mr. Motiwala said merely exports of USD 30 Billion from a country like Pakistan having population of 220 Million is not justified at all, we have to explore new value added products export and import substitution on war footing basis.
Mr. Zubair Motiwala informed that the TDAP is setting up Pakistani Pavilion at 28th edition Gulfood from 20 – 24 February 2023 at Dubai World Trade Centre, the world’s largest food and beverage sourcing and hospitality show and got overwhelming response from Pakistani Companies but we could not accommodate all interested companies who applied for participation at Gulfood “23. Mr. Zubair Motiwala, CEO TDAP then launched Biz Today International Gulfood’23 Special Supplement at “Future for Food Summit” held in Karachi. All interested companies who intends to show case their presence at Gulfood’23 can consider to avail their product show casing through this special supplement which will be available at Pakistani Pavilion with assistance to Pakistani Companies. Biz Today with TDAP support and guidance will publish “Gulfood ’23 Special Supplement” developing markets for F&B exports from Pakistan highlighting the potential of Halal Food and Beverage items export at competitive prices from Pakistan and show case Pakistani value added food and food preparations.“Gulfood ’23 Special Supplement” will be in digital format as well as in print edition, print edition will be circulated at Gulfood and same will be circulated to Commercial Counsellors based in Pakistani Embassies world wide. We will also facilitate Business Match making between potential exporters and importers.
Naeem Khanani, CEO Nutra Solutions informed that main objective of launching Biz Today Gulfood “23 Special supplement with TDAP support is to develop export markets for Pakistani food & beverage industry. Pakistan food exports of fruits, vegetables, meat, seafood, rice, citrus, processed food, Confectionery and other value added food for future with innovations can bring much needed foreign exchange and increase employment opportunities for our food technologists in Pakistan.
Naeem Khanani,CEO Nutra Solutions informed that It’s high time for talk with action. Food for Future Summit aims to spark thought provoking dialogues and debates among food technologists and experts to ignite the fuel that will drive the change in the national food systems. Dr. Fayyaz Ashraf spoke on food for future to reduce malnutrition and hunger keeping in view Zero Hunger is part of UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Pakistan’s exports of halal meat and meat preparations were stood USD 333 million during fiscal year 2020-21 and expected above USD 500 this fiscal year. Mairaj Qureshi, CEO Macca Food Industries discussed the huge scope of export of Halal meat from Pakistan. Ms. Saima Maqbool, faculty at COTHM explained the need of food safety for all food complete value chain.
An exciting Panel discussion on food for future with Experts from food technology consisting of Omer Qasim, Dr. Fayyaz Ashraf, Hina Anis, Waqas Azeem and Amira Ismail created the high interest from audience. Moderator Naeem Khanani invited panelists to throw light on food for future to ensure food security, zero hunger and reduce malnutrition. Experts also touched the topic of export of organic food and food with healthy life style and balanced diet.
Waqas Azeem, Former Chairman APRA well presented initiatives taken for reduction of food wastage and to achieve zero hunger SDG. Dr. Ghufran Saeed, Asst Professor Food Science & Technology, University of Karachi spoke on Good food for all: food as a connector for health and climate. Concluding speech was delivered by His Excellency Herman Hardynata Bin Ahmad, Consul General of Malaysia in Karachi. Vote of Thanks was offered by Mr. Irfan Pardesi, Founder, Biz Today International.
