Ahmed Khan Malik

Pakistan’s first international food and agriculture exhibition “FoodAg-2023” has secured $410 million in export orders. The exhibition was organised by the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) at Expo Centre Karachi recently. More than 221 exporters exhibited over 500 quality products at the event, and more than 600 international buyers from 60 countries, including international brands Nico Food, Diamond Star, Zensho Trading from Japan, Metro, Amazon and Hello Fresh from Germany, and Vitana Food and Shana Food from Iran attended the event. The largest participation was from China, comprising more than 150 buyers. After over 5,000 business-to-business (B2B) meetings, business worth $410 million was finalised along with signing of 10 memorandums of understanding (MoUs). Representatives from 15 regulatory authorities held over two dozen meetings with Pakistani counterparts to discuss sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS), and quarantine issues.

The event provided visibility to Pakistan’s regulatory authorities, including the Department of Plant Protection, Animal Quarantine Department, Marine Fisheries Department and Intellectual Property Organisation (IPO) to improve safety standards. In addition, high-profile meetings were held with foreign delegations from China, Tajikistan, Turkey, Japan, the US, Senegal, Kenya, Rwanda, Poland, Germany, Italy, Russia, Tajikistan, Australia, Saudia Arabia, Sri Lanka and ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) region to discuss special bilateral trade challenges and opportunities, and explore ways to address them in order to enhance trade with Pakistan. A global cuisine show was also organised by TDAP. Culinary artists from around the world preparing these exceptional cuisines made specifically from Pakistani ingredients enhanced the essence of the event. The event garnered participation from delegations from Turkey, Mexico, China, Algeria, and the ASEAN region.

Jay Palfrey from the UK, a prominent travel blogger, along with Osamah Nasir and Mystapaki, Pakistan’s renowned food bloggers, were also part of the show. Not only that, esteemed figures from the entertainment industry attended the event. The event kicked off with Agri Investment Conference, attended by heads of provincial boards of investment to pitch the investors. An important aspect of the event was the high degree of interest shown by provincial governments. The series of seminars focused on international road connectivity, EU regulations, fisheries sector challenges and opportunities. The event concluded with a resolution to grow a sustainable future, especially when climate change and food security are wreaking havoc all around the world, with a special focus on Pakistan’s agro food sector, which has the potential to serve as a beacon of hope for addressing global food security challenges.

Credit: INP-WealthPk