Monday, December 19, 2016

19th December,2016 daily global regional and local rice e-newsletter by riceplus magazine

Pakistan to spend billions to enhance exports
December 19 2016 12:29 AM

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A young Pakistani vendor shows a toy to customers at his roadside shop in Rawalpindi yesterday.
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Internews/Islamabad
The government of Pakistan would spend Rs20bn over the next three years to enhance export competitiveness and institutional strengthening under the Strategic Trade Policy Framework (STPF) 2015/18, sources in the Commerce Division said yesterday.
In response to emerging international changes several other initiatives are being implemented to enhance export basket and the market share, they said.
Highlighting the steps taken by the government to enhance exports, the sources said sales tax zero-rating regime for five export-oriented sectors, textiles, leather, carpets, surgical and sports goods, has been introduced from July this year.
Under the short-term export enhancement measures, four product categories, ie, basmati, horticulture, meat and meat products and jewellery are being focused with parallel focus on the foreign markets, including Iran, Afghanistan, China and the European Union.
An additional Rs6bn is available for exporters through Textile Policy 2014, they added.
Policy of uninterrupted energy supply has been implemented with zero electricity load- shedding on industrial feeders since October 2015 and zero gas load-shedding for industry since March 2016, they added.
The sources also said in order to fulfil long-awaited demand for reducing cost of doing business, the government has taken a major step of reducing electricity tariff by Rs3 for industrial units with effect from January 1, 2016.
Further, fuel adjustment has been passed on to the consumers to reduce the cost of production.
The export infrastructure is being continuously improved, capacity of Lahore Expo Centre has been doubled, groundbreaking at Peshawar Expo Center and at three 21st Century land ports at Torkham, Wagah and Chaman is also expected this fiscal year.
The sources said in order to counter import surge through illegal trade and strengthen trade defence mechanisms, the National Tariff Commission Act has been revamped and approved by Parliament in 2015.
Leading business support institutions are being strengthened, they added.
The Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) has recently been restructured, 
while Pakistan Horticulture Development and Export Company is being revitalised and strengthened, the sources said.
TDAP is undertaking various export promotional activities through trade exhibitions and delegations, they said, adding that the availability of affordable finance for the exports sector has considerably improved.
They also said the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has further reduced the discount rate, which currently stands at 5.75%.
Likewise, the export finance rate, currently at 4.5%, is the lowest in a decade.
The sources said Exim Bank is being established to facilitate export credit and for reducing the cost of borrowing for exporting sectors on long-term basis.
This will also reduce their risks through export credit guarantees and insurance facilities.
The board of directors of the bank have been appointed and it will be functional after completing the technical formalities.
Moreover, the federal Cabinet has approved resumption of banking channels between the State Bank of Pakistan and the Central Bank of Iran, which will boost Pakistan’s rice exports substantially.
There is consistent effort for negotiating additional market access for Pakistani products in target markets.
FTA negotiations with Turkey and Thailand are at advanced stage, negotiations with Iran on FTA are being initiated and joint research study to assess the potential for a preferential arrangement with Korea is underway, the sources added.
http://www.gulf-times.com/story/525191/Pakistan-to-spend-billions-to-enhance-exports

PAKISTAN PRODUCES 6.8MN TON RICE IN 2015-16

Friday, 16 December 2016 14:51
ISLAMABAD: The introduction of hybrid seeds has resulted in higher production of rice as the country has produced 6.8 million tons of crop during the year 2015-16."The hybrid production has also raised our exports and in the year 2015-16 we have been able to export around 3 million tons of rice," Parliamentary Secretary on National Food Security and Research Rajab Ali Baloch told the National Assembly during the question-hour session.Replying to a question of MNA Aisha Syed, he said the ministry through its research establishments was taking necessary steps to facilitate the fruit growers in the country to increase the production and improve its quality to meet international standards. Due to efforts and work of our experts we have been able to produce hybrid canola, sun flower and maize seeds of international standards, he added.
He stated that during the past two to three years no complaint was received with regard to export of rice and "kinnow" adding, "the government has been successful to improve quality of agricultural products and address complains on their packing for the export purpose."He said the government had taken various steps to improve the quality of crops. "We have introduced integrated management strategies for fruit flies control in mango, citrus and guava orchards. We have also introduced Mechanized Harvesting and De-sapping in mangoes."He said the trainings of service providers on export quality production through Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and hot water treatment for mango export and blast chill requirements for "kinnow" export had also been undertaken.

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