Islamabad (TDI): Pakistan and the Philippines have stepped up efforts to expand bilateral rice trade, following special directives from the Pakistani Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, to identify and secure priority export markets for the country’s agricultural produce.
Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan held a detailed meeting with Dr. Emmanuel R. Fernandez, Ambassador of the Philippines to Pakistan, to discuss avenues for enhancing Pakistan’s rice exports to the Philippine market.
The meeting reflected the government’s broader strategy to leverage Pakistan’s strong agricultural output and surplus stocks to strengthen trade ties with key partner countries.
During the discussions, Jam Kamal Khan conveyed the Prime Minister’s keen interest in increasing rice exports and formally requested the Philippine side to consider additional procurement from Pakistan.
He emphasized that Pakistan is currently enjoying a robust agricultural cycle, with ample exportable surplus of rice, while maintaining consistent quality standards that meet international requirements.
The Commerce Minister noted that global rice markets have become increasingly competitive with the re-entry of major suppliers, leading to intensified price competition.
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To address this challenge, he explained that the Government of Pakistan has put in place a mechanism to ensure benchmark price competitiveness, including financial bridging where necessary.
This approach, he said, is aimed at enabling Pakistani rice to compete effectively on price while continuing to assure buyers of quality, reliability, and sufficient quantities.
Jam Kamal Khan further informed the Ambassador that, on the Prime Minister’s instructions, the Philippines has been identified as one of Pakistan’s key target markets for enhanced rice exports.
He underlined that close and timely coordination between the relevant authorities of both countries would be crucial, particularly in light of upcoming rice procurement tenders in the Philippines.
Ambassador Dr. Emmanuel R. Fernandez welcomed Pakistan’s proactive engagement, terming it a positive step toward deepening bilateral trade and investment relations.
He acknowledged Pakistan’s longstanding position among the top three rice suppliers to the Philippines and noted that Pakistan has the potential not only to retain but also to expand its market share.
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He added that the forthcoming session of the Pakistan–Philippines Joint Economic Commission (JEC), expected to be held in February, would prioritize rice trade on its agenda.
Both sides reviewed progress on a draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) being negotiated between Pakistan’s Ministry of Commerce and the Philippine Ministry of Agriculture.
The proposed MoU envisages government-to-government rice procurement over a multi-year period. It was noted that technical teams are in close contact, with a Pakistani delegation scheduled to visit the Philippines to expedite finalization of the agreement ahead of upcoming tenders.
Discussions also covered tariff-related issues and the importance of cost competitiveness to facilitate higher export volumes. The Pakistani side stressed that early conclusion of the MoU would help manage surplus stocks and ensure continuity of supply to the Philippine market.
In addition to rice, Jam Kamal Khan highlighted Pakistan’s interest in expanding kinnow (mandarin) exports to the Philippines and requested that related tariff matters be addressed through appropriate institutional mechanisms, including the JEC.
