KARACHI: An important meeting to enhance rice trade between Pakistan and the UAE took place on 23rd October 2024 at the UAE Consulate in Karachi. The REAP (Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan) delegation met with H.E. Dr. Bakheet Ateeq Alremeithi, Consul General of UAE, to discuss increasing rice exports and promoting business opportunities in the UAE.
The REAP delegation included Chairman Malik Faisal Jahangir, Senior Vice Chairman Muhammad Javed Jillani, and key members Mohaib Moulvi, Muhammad Khurram, Mahesh Kumar, Sheeraz Ahmed Sheikh, Muhammad Shahid Memon, Altaf Hussain Shaikh (Secretary), and Arif Ali Khan (Assistant Secretary).
During the meeting, the REAP Chairman highlighted that due to their efforts, rice has become a major crop in Pakistan, with exports crossing $5 billion in 2024. He noted that since REAP’s establishment in 2010, rice exports have been steadily growing, with the UAE emerging as a key market.
The REAP delegation also expressed interest in setting up warehouses and repackaging facilities for rice in the UAE to meet local market demands. They emphasized the importance of food safety measures in the UAE and discussed collaboration in this area.
H.E. Dr. Bakheet Ateeq Alremeithi invited the REAP delegation to invest in the Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (KIZAD) and suggested cooperation with the UAE Consulate team for registration on the i-Hub portal. The delegation also raised concerns about logistics issues at Karachi port, to which H.E. assured them that a meeting with AD Ports Authority and Port Qasim Authority would be arranged to address these issues.
Additionally, the REAP delegation expressed their desire to participate in the Gulf Food Exhibition at Dubai World Trade Center from 18-20 February 2025, to which H.E. Dr. Bakheet Ateeq Alremeithi assured full support. The exhibition, which hosts over 190 countries, provides an excellent platform to showcase Pakistan’s rice varieties globally.
This meeting is expected to play a crucial role in further enhancing rice trade between Pakistan and the UAE, strengthening trade relations between the two countries.
Lastly, the REAP Chairman extended his gratitude to H.H. Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, the Prime Minister of the UAE, for visiting their stall and appreciating Pakistan’s rice products. The Chairman also requested H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum to visit their stall in the upcoming exhibition in February 2025.
