ISLAMABAD, Mar 9 (APP): Malaysia is expecting fourfold increase in import of Pakistani rice during the current year, Commercial Counselor for Pakistan High Commission Wajihullah Kundi said in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday.

According to a press release issued here, the Commercial Counselor said that Malaysian Padiberas Nasional Berhad (BERNAS) and its group of companies which are involved in the procurement and processing of paddy; as well as, importation, warehousing, distribution and marketing of rice in Malaysia has been actively engaging Pakistan to bring about fourfold increase in import of Pakistani rice.

The objective is to diversify its import base of rice and to minimize its dependence on rice import from Thailand and Vietnam.

The Malaysian import of rice from Thailand and Vietnam make up 45.91 percent and 34.5 percent, respectively. Currently Pakistan is the third biggest exporter of rice to Malaysia, but it makes up only 4.1 percent of the total rice import which now have been projected to increase four fold in the year 2010.

The Commercial Counselor said that during the visit of the Minister of Agriculture and agro-based industry of Malaysia from December 14-17, 2009 to Pakistan, the Malaysia importers secured many contracts for Pakistani companies for rice import, the trend will continue the year 2010 leading to substantial increase.

The rice varieties of Pakistan which are priced world over and by Malaysia consumers due to their excellent taste, enchanting flavor and healthy nutritious value includes various varieties of Basmati rice including Super, Shaheen and Kernal, Basmati and other varieties includes  NIAB, IRRI-9 and IRRI-6, broken rice, rice in the husk, paddy husked or brown rice both semi-milled or wholly milled.

In the year 2008, total rice export to Malaysia was valued at RM 110.97 million. However this sector did not perform well in the same year and registered a decline in its share of export to Malaysia of Pakistan goods from 32 to 14 percent whereas import of rice during first ten month of 2009 was recorded at RM. 57.523 registering a decline of 46.25 percent from import of 107 percent in first ten months of year 2008.

This declining trend is being harnessed and in 2010 is expected to register substantial increase of fourfold.