Thursday 15 January 2015

FPCCI chief assures PFVA of raising issues with Prime Minister

Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) President Mian Muhammad Adrees has advised All Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters, Importers and Merchants Association (PFVA) to prepare a brief presentation highlighting its issues, which he would discuss with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in the forthcoming meeting.

During his visit to PFVA, here on Tuesday, he was surprised to know that the Commercial Vapour Heat Treatment (VHT) plant had not yet been installed even after the lapse of 18 months. He assured that he would take up the issue with the concerned authorities from the platform of FPCCI.

Appreciating the vision of the PFVA leadership, he assured his full support and assistance in accomplishment of the association's future plans for enhancement of exports. Adrees acknowledged that fruit and vegetable export was a key segment of trade and hence needed special attention. He said that the doors of FPCCI were wide open for the progress of this vital sector.

He suggested that to facilitate the foreign importers, the PFVA's website should be linked with the chamber's website. Chairman PFVA, Abdul Khaliq Yusuf, highlighted various impediments in enhancement of export. Pattern-in-chief, Waheed Ahmed, while giving a comprehensive presentation said that the current export revenue of this sector could easily be enhanced to $1 billion within three years.

Elaborating further, he said that Research & Development (R&D) was essentially required otherwise possibility of Pakistan becoming an importing country of agri-produce, fruit and vegetables could not be ruled out. The commercial VHT plant required for mango export to Japan could not be installed after a lapse of 18 months, he said, expressing the fear that it would endanger the export of mango to the high value market this year. Similarly, he added that no progress had yet been made in installation of hot water treatment plant (HWT) as a common facility in Karachi, Multan and other cities. Waheed further mentioned that horticulture sector provided jobs to huge number of people. Pakistani fruit and vegetables were in great demand around the world but due to unfavourable policies and impediments, the export potential of this sector could not be fully exploited, he added.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2015

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