KARACHI, Feb 17 (APP):The Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), in collaboration with the Pakistan Embassy in Tajikistan, successfully hosted a virtual B2B interactive session dedicated to strengthening potato trade between the two countries on Tuesday.
Pakistan, currently harvesting a historic potato crop of around 12 million tons, already commands a dominant 61% share of Tajikistan’s potato imports ($8.3 million out of $13.6 million total in 2025, equivalent to approximately 100,000 tons).
Despite strong and rising demand in Tajikistan—where wholesale bulk prices stand at 5.2–5.8 TJS/kg ($0.49–$0.55) and are projected to climb to ~6.5 TJS/kg ($0.61) soon—geopolitical disruptions have pushed logistics costs up to four times the value of the potatoes, causing delays and reluctance among carriers.
DG TDAP (Agro & Food Division) Athar Hussain Khokhar, in his opening remarks, underscored Pakistan’s reliability as Tajikistan’s leading supplier and urged Pakistani exporters to adopt more flexible, buyer-friendly practices and urged Pakistani exporters to offer competitive pricing to protect Tajik importers’ margins, shift from 100% advance payments to trust-building flexible terms, and consider establishing direct representative offices or presence in Tajikistan for maximum control, profitability, and market penetration.
The session featured active participation from the Deputy Chairman of the Tajikistan Chamber of Commerce, prominent Tajik traders and importers, and leading Pakistani exporters including FA International, National Fruit Processing, TM Commodities, Chase International, Sargodha Mandarin, Saddruddin & Co, Citrus Asia, and Al-Rafique Enterprises. Discussions centered on quality assurance, freight optimization, and mutually beneficial payment structures.
Both sides agreed to move forward by sharing detailed company profiles and scheduling follow-up dedicated B2B meetings in the coming days. TDAP reaffirmed its commitment to deepening bilateral collaboration in the agro-food sector, particularly potatoes, to convert current logistical challenges into long-term, stable, and mutually profitable trade opportunities.