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KARACHI, Nov 25 (APP): Federal Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan, on Tuesday, opened the 3rd International Food and Agriculture Exhibition FoodAg 2025 at Expo Center Karachi for three days featuring a variety of Pakistan’s food and agriculture products under the theme of ‘Harvesting Innovation, Cultivating Sustainability.’
The Inauguration ceremony of the exhibition was attended by Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) Chief Executive Faiz Ahmad and Secretary Sheryar Taj, higher officials, diplomats of friendly countries as well as business delegates and leadership of trade and industrial fraternity of Pakistan.
The federal minister flanked with TDAP highups and visiting dignitaries, visited different stalls set up in the exhibition by more than 350 leading Pakistani exporters; showcasing the country’s finest staple grains, a vast variety of fruits specially mangoes, kinnows and dates, Himalayan pink salt, premium seafood, halal meat and dairy products, spices and value-added foods to over 800 pre-qualified international buyers from more than 80 countries.
Jam Kamal Khan, talking to the media at the occasion, said that participation of 850 delegates from European, African, American continents, ASEAN, Bahrain, China and other countries is an evidence that the world sees great potential in Pakistan.
Pakistani companies have shown great performance in the past years while the quality of Pakistani products is excellent, he said and urged on attracting more foreign trade partners and gaining further space for Pakistani products in the foreign markets.
The commerce minister said that major economic indicators in Pakistan have improved with significant decline in inflation and policy rate while overall challenges are being closely monitored and maximum possible facilitation has been extended to exportering sectors.
The Prime Minister has taken a significant decision on the EFS surcharge under the Export Development Fund the other day, he added, while negotiations on old FTAs ??with various countries were underway.
He also highlighted the progress in newly tapped African markets and growing trade relations with Bangladesh and stated that our government is addressing the challenges at both macro and micro levels and extensive consultations were being made with the trade, business and industrial sectors.
Terming Pakistan’s security and stability as the top priority, Jam Kamal said that “Our major concern with Afghanistan is use of their territory against Pakistan and and as a Pakistani security and safety of the homeland must be our first priority and what is in it.” If security is not ensured across the border, Pakistan will be forced to take measures while positive measures could only be expected when Afghanistan takes necessary steps on their part, he stated.
The 3rd FoodAg 2025, encompasses a large number of pre-arranged B2B meetings, nine high-level conferences on sustainability and traceability, and a spectacular Pakistan Cuisine Pavilion featuring 21 celebrity chefs from five continents cooking live using only Pakistani ingredients.
The TDAP is anticipating over $1 billion business generation from the exhibition along with creation of thousands of jobs and long-term partnerships that will benefit farmers and exporters across the country.
The buyer delegation included top importers from Asia (over 300, led by major Chinese state and private companies, Malaysia’s BERNAS, Indonesia’s PT Laris Manis Utama and Sri Lankan conglomerates), Europe (Surya Foods – Europe’s largest basmati buyer, AIB Foods, Aytac Foods, Schepens & Co Belgium and Migros Türkiye), the Middle East and GCC (Mercury Me DMCC, Sunder Trading Qatar, D Ocean Fisheries Bahrain), Africa (over 200 buyers from Kenya, Somalia, Cameroon, Angola, Rwanda, Mauritius and others), as well as key players from Australia, Canada, USA and Russia.