Pakistan food exporters – The Saudi Food Show is the Kingdom’s largest annual event for food and beverage sourcing. The event will be held in Riyadh from May 21 to 23, where more than 1,000 exhibitors from 97 countries will participate. Among the exhibitors there are also around thirty Pakistani companies participating in the event, reported the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP).
Buoyed by an overwhelming response at the “Saudi Food Show 2024” held in Riyadh, Pakistani food exporters said on Thursday that they were confident of increasing their market share in the Kingdom, Arab News reported.
“We hope to increase our participation after this exhibition.” The innovative Saudi platform brings together a distinguished global contingent of exhibitors, thought leaders, industry communities, strategic partners, innovative brands, and acclaimed chefs.
Pakistani rice exporters are hoping to reach a new milestone in exporting the product after India decided last year to ban rice exports. India, the world’s top rice exporter, last year banned the export of white rice other than basmati to control rising domestic food costs and maintain domestic supplies.
“The annual demand for rice in Saudi Arabia is 1.2 million tonnes and Pakistan’s share is currently only 7 percent,” Chela Ram Kewlani, president of the Pakistan Rice Exporters Association, told Arab News ( REAP).
The move prompted Pakistan’s rice exports to rise by more than 80 percent this fiscal year to $3.28 billion. REAP officials expect rice exports to surpass the $3.5 billion mark by the end of the current financial year.
Praising the response received at the Saudi Food Show, Khalid Ghori, representative of Pakistan’s leading agribusiness, Matco Foods Limited, hoped that “the market will be fruitful for Pakistan in the coming days.”
The Pakistan Pavilion at the event featured 30 companies, 15 of them from the rice sector, 12 from the processed food sector, two from the meat sector and two from the dairy sector, the TDAP said.Pakistan food exporters
“A large number of people, including importers and exporters, visited our stalls and we hope that the market will be very fruitful for Pakistani products,” Ghori told Arab News. Pakistani food exporters also participated in a major three-day food and beverage trade fair held last week in Montreal, Canada.
Pakistan’s exports to Saudi Arabia are expected to reach $450 million this fiscal year, with major contributions from the rice and meat sectors. Meat exports are expected to reach $500 million this year, with Saudi Arabia a major market. In the last ten months, meat exports to Saudi Arabia have totaled approximately $120 million.Pakistan food exporters
SIAL Canada had around 10 Pakistani companies exhibiting various products including beverages, dairy products, rice, pink salt, sweet snacks, seafood, fresh fruits, vegetables, dry fruits, and frozen and prepared products.
Meanwhile, the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) said in a statement that the country made its debut at the Saudi Food Show 2024, with 45 leading food companies exhibiting their products.Pakistan food exporters
“The Pakistan Pavilion featured a wide range of high-quality food products, highlighting the country’s rich culinary offerings,” the TDAP CEO said in a statement.Pakistan food exporters
The TDAP EC identified Rhodes grass and Alfa Alfa as promising sectors for trade with Saudi Arabia, with advances in corporate farming and improvements in seed quality doubling the Rhodes grass growing area to 32,000 acres this year.Pakistan food exporters