Cereal Association of Pakistan Delegation to Visit Bangladesh

A delegation comprising 14 members from the Cereal Association of Pakistan (CAP) is scheduled to embark on a week-long journey to Bangladesh, commencing this Saturday. The primary objective of this visit is to investigate potential export opportunities for Pakistani agricultural products, notably rice, maize, and spices.

This marks the inaugural visit by maize traders, which follows an upswing in the commercial relationship between Pakistan and Bangladesh.

The Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) is supporting the delegation, which is being spearheaded by Muzammil Rauf Chappal, the founding chairman of CAP. The delegates will be in Dhaka and Chittagong during their stay, engaging with trade organizations, government representatives, and business leaders to determine market needs and forge alliances.

Chappal stated that Bangladesh is a promising market for cereals and food items originating from Pakistan. Recent political developments in Bangladesh have bolstered bilateral relations. Pakistan successfully exported 50,000 tons of rice earlier in the year via a government-to-government arrangement.

He noted Bangladesh’s interest in importing additional food products from Pakistan, which prompted the delegation’s visit to assess export possibilities.

Chappal lauded TDAP for enabling the visit and underscored the significance of such endeavors in expanding Pakistan’s export capabilities. He also expressed gratitude to Deputy Prime Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar for his crucial involvement in facilitating the visit. Furthermore, he commended the Pakistani Embassy in Bangladesh for their comprehensive support to the delegation.

He mentioned that meetings are planned with representatives from the Export Promotion Bureau of Bangladesh, the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry, the Pakistan-Bangladesh Business Forum, the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FBCCI), and the Feed Industry Association of Bangladesh.

Chappal voiced optimism that the visit will unlock new avenues for commerce and collaboration between Pakistan and Bangladesh, enabling Pakistani exporters to substantially contribute to the national economy through enhanced foreign exchange revenues.

Other members of the delegation include Muhammad Arif Doni (Deputy Leader), Shoaib Rauf (Convener), Tanveer Ahmed Paracha (Deputy Convener), Abdul Rauf Shivani, Teka Mal, Hassan Doni, Sarfraz Ahmed Shiekh, Muhammad Zeeshan Attari, Muhammad Azeem Tahir, Ather Ali Raza, Muhammad Sufyan, Irfan Ahsan, and Mohsin Ali.