Bangladesh shows interest in importing Pakistan par boiled rice
Pakistan Times Business & Commerce Desk

ISLAMABAD: Bangladesh has shown interest in importing 200,000 metric tonnes of par boiled rice from Pakistan, seeking tariff concessions to boost bilateral trade.

The interest was shown by Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Hamayatuddin, who met Acting Secretary Commerce Syed Asif Shah here and discussed issues relating to bilateral trade.

The High Commissioner for Bangladesh and senior officials of the Ministry of Commerce were also present in the meeting.

The Bangladesh Foreign Secretary pointed out that there exists trade imbalance between the two countries which needs to be rectified.

The visiting Foreign Secretary stressed the need for increasing interaction both at the government and private sector level for enhancing trade between Pakistan and Bangladesh.

He referred to the market access offered to Bangladeshi raw jute, rice and tea which has been widely appreciated by the business community in Bangladesh.

The Bangladesh side requested Pakistan to consider additional items for similar tariff concessions.

He said that at present Bangladesh Government is particularly interested in importing 200,000 metric tonnes par boiled rice from Pakistan.

The Acting Secretary Commerce reiterated Pakistan’s interest in strengthening economic and trade relations and urged Bangladesh side to resume negotiations on bilateral FTA so that additional items for tariff concessions can be considered.

He said that Secretary Commerce is likely to visit Bangladesh during the last week of September to discuss issues pertaining to bilateral trade.●