Joint efforts needed to enhance basmati exports

The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) has given a road map to the Ministry of Commerce (MINCOM) for the revival of the basmati rice industry on fast track basis

President UNISAME Zulfikar Thaver said the first step to enhance basmati rice exports would be to facilitate the rice exporters to export to third world countries by financing trade with third world countries by insuring the transaction risk through export credit guarantee insurance. This will make the commercial banks comfortable in financing the rice exporters.

Secondly a currency swap agreement with Iran is very essential for smooth exports to Iran. This will enable Iran to buy basmati rice from Pakistan again.

Thirdly warehousing facilities for goods in many countries are needed for enhancing exports.

Fourthly it is important that Pakiatani basmati rice exporters have regular basmati festivals in Europe, Latin American countries and U.S.A.

Pakistani basmati rice is no where seen on the super market shelves in these countries, all that one sees is Indian basmati brands. Pakiatani brands need aggressive marketing with free gifts, and one plus one marketing schemes.

Fifthly the government needs to remove import duties on packing material of rice.

Sixthly the withholding tax on export of rice must be reduced to quarter percent and export development surcharge be removed fully.

The government needs to promote Pakistani basmati rice features of aroma, length and look, superior taste and it’s recognition of world’s number one rice because our super basmati rice is the rice used for banquets by the royal families.

UNISAME also called upon the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) to upgrade the rice industry and improve the supply chain from the primary sector to exports.
The Intellectual Property Organization (IPO) needs to convene a meeting of stakeholders for the solution of the Geographical Indications (GI) and the Trade Marks Registrar (TMR) intervention is also required to settle the issues of GI and TM without loss of time to overcome the erroneous findings of the Indian forum.

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