- Advertisement -
ISLAMABAD, Nov 20 (APP):Minister for National Food Security & Research Rana Tanveer Hussainheld on Thursday held a series of important bilateral meetings with the ministers and delegations of Tunisia, Portugal and Iran, in addition to a detailed discussion with the Executive Director of the IOC, Jaime Lillo.
These engagements took place during the second session of the Council meeting and the official dinner hosted for international delegations. The minister is representing Pakistan at the 122nd Session of the Council of Members of the International Olive Council (IOC) in Córdoba, Spain, said a press release.
During the meeting with the Iranian Minister, both sides expressed satisfaction over the growing agricultural partnership between Pakistan and Iran. The Iranian delegation informed the Minister that Iran had doubled its imports of Pakistani agricultural produce over the past year, particularly in the categories of maize, rice, and meat, and wished to further expand bilateral trade in these commodities.
The Iranian Minister appreciated the quality and demand of Pakistani products in the Iranian market and stressed the need for stronger cooperation in supply chain facilitation. Rana Tanveer welcomed Iran’s interest, thanked the Iranian government for providing greater market access to Pakistani goods, and assured that Pakistan would extend full support to deepen this relationship.
He emphasized that Pakistan is committed to long-term agricultural cooperation with Iran and looks forward to enhancing collaboration in standards, logistics, and joint research.
In the meeting with the Tunisian Minister, discussions centered on Tunisia’s globally recognized expertise in the olive sector. The Tunisian side briefed the Minister about their advanced olive oil production systems and expressed readiness to cooperate with Pakistan by sharing technical knowledge, offering training to Pakistani experts, and exploring joint research initiatives.
Rana Tanveer Hussain conveyed Pakistan’s interest in learning from Tunisia’s experience and highlighted the potential of Pakistan’s olive belt. He invited Tunisia to send a technical delegation to Pakistan to assess opportunities for cooperation in olive cultivation, processing, and value addition.
The Minister also met the delegation from Portugal, where both sides discussed strengthening cooperation in food safety, agricultural technology, value addition, and academic partnerships. The Portuguese Minister acknowledged Pakistan’s role in regional food supply and expressed willingness to expand collaboration in animal health, fisheries development, climate-resilient farming, and modern agri-processing.
Federal Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain highlighted Pakistan’s efforts to modernize agriculture and welcomed Portugal’s interest in joint ventures and knowledge-sharing initiatives that can benefit both countries.
A separate and significant meeting was held with IOC Executive Director Jaime Lillo, who thanked the Minister for attending the 122nd Session in Córdoba and conveyed his appreciation for Pakistan’s active engagement with the International Olive Council.
Lillo briefed the Minister on the remaining steps of Pakistan’s membership process and expressed gratitude for Pakistan’s support and cooperation throughout the procedure. He also invited the Minister to visit the IOC Headquarters in Madrid to participate in the flag-raising ceremony marking Pakistan’s membership and to plant an olive tree representing Pakistan in the IOC Garden at Madrid.
The Minister underscored that Pakistan seeks to expand international agricultural cooperation to ensure sustainable food security, adopt modern farming practices, and open new export markets for Pakistani producers.
He stated that partnerships with friendly nations are essential for transforming the agricultural sector and improving farmers’ livelihoods, and assured that Pakistan will continue to actively engage in all platforms that promote mutual growth and development.