UNISAME URGES REAP TO ADVOCATE CAUSE OF SME EXPORTERS

The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises ( UNISAME ) advised the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP ) to advocate the cause of the rice exporters vigorously and demand facilities for the SME rice exporters.

President UNISAME Zulfikar Thaver said the SME rice exporters have been eliminated and the SME units processing rice are closed. The rice exports business is now in the hands of only the big exporters. The Quality Review Committee (QRC) which is being disbanded in a couple of days has caused irreparable loss to the SME rice exporters.

One leading rice exporter in rice business since decades said REAP has miserably failed in leadership and ever since the leadership has been in the hands of the non rice persons they have messed up the rice industry. They were unable to comprehend the rice trade.

It has been observed that rice is being sold on carts and in non grocery stores. It is reported that huge amount is blocked in inventory and stockists have suffered losses due to big reduction in prices.

The Trade Development Authority of Pakistan ( TDAP ) has not been able to manage the crisis and the Trading Corporation of Pakistan ( TCP ) and the Pakistan Food and Agricultural Reserve is already burdened with heavy inventory of rice purchased years ago with higher prices.

Unfortunately Iran is not buying rice from Pakistan and now Yemen is also not in the market due to adverse conditions.

Afghanistan is an export market but it is involved in border trade. Nevertheless it has been a buying support for rice millers in difficult times.

The point is difficulties are second nature to businessmen but the trade bodies must be in a position to take up the issues with the concerned ministries.

In the case of rice the REAP is a silent spectator and has not made serious efforts to find ways and means to the problems and the crisis deepened said another exporter.

The big exporters managed to secure big tenders and earned huge profits but the SMES have been without business and are shutting shop.

Posted in: Press Releases