Thai govt to open market for Pakistani fruits

[Salman]

Thai govt to open market for Pakistani fruits

KARACHI - A large business group of Thailand is coming to Pakistan to invest in the poultry sector. Thai government will also consider opening of its market for Pakistani fruits. This was stated in a meeting between Mr Pichate Satirachaval, Thailand’s Trade Representative and Consultant to Thai PM, and Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Federal Minister for Commerce here on Wednesday. Satirachaval was accompanied by Thai ambassador in Pakistan, as well as Pakistani ambassador to Thailand. They discussed bilateral trade issues between the two countries.
According to sources at Trade Development Authority of Pakistan, the meeting was informed that a large food business group of Thailand – the CP Group - was coming to Pakistan to explore the viability of investing in the poultry sector here. It was anticipated that the next meeting of Joint Economic Commission will be held in Pakistan that would help attract investment from Thailand, leading to greater bilateral trade between the two countries. Mr Satirachaval offered Thai expertise for up-grading gems and jewelry sector of Pakistan, as Pakistan had substantial mineral deposits which needed to be explored. Besides that Thailand‘s Trade Representative agreed to look into the possibility of opening up of Thai market for export of Pakistani fruit. He informed the commerce minister that formation of a Joint Trade Committee (JTC) was approved by Thai Cabinet and its first meeting was likely to be held early next year, either in Pakistan or Thailand. He also stated that a Joint Feasibility Study on an Early Harvest Programme for an eventual Free Trade Agreement had already been completed.
Federal minister for commerce drew the attention of the Thai Trade Representative to the potential of Gwadar port of Pakistan as a platform for exports to Central Asia. In the meeting, it was also agreed that the two countries would cooperate for study of Halal Food Certification between the two countries. Thai Trade Representative informed that in Thailand about 5,000 firms had already been qualified for halal food trade and nearly 75,000 items were cleared as halal. The meeting was concluded with a determination on both sides to stimulate the bilateral trade between Thailand and Pakistan through extensive exchange of trade delegations.