Pakistani date exporters to enhance bilateral trade with Sri Lanka

By Roshenka de Mel

A Pakistani delegation of date growers and exporters is currently surveying and exploring Sri Lanka as a market for Pakistani date exports.

The delegation is in negotiations with Sri Lankan buyers and will be looking to increase Sri Lankan imports of Pakistani dates to reach an export target of US$ 10 million by the end of 2011.

Striving to reach a 50% growth on date exports by 2012, the delegation is looking at Sri Lanka as an export market with long-term plans and is attempting to takeover from the UAE as the main exporter of dates to Sri Lanka. Head of the delegation Qadir Bux Khan Mari explained that Pakistan was the fourth largest date producing country in the world, exporting to international markets comprising 30 countries. The delegation is at present looking to increase Pakistan’s date exports to Sri Lanka, which they believe to be a promising market with an established demand for dates. Highlighting Pakistan’s date export capabilities and explaining how dates have a significance across multiple religious communities and provide immense nutritional benefits, exporter of Mumtaz Dates, Mumtaz Bhambhro stated “Pakistan is the second largest exporter of dates and produces 6.5 million metric tonnes annually. Pakistan produces 12 varieties of dates of which the Aseel variety is the most renowned. Dates are used by many people of different religions and have significant health benefits. Eating only seven dates a day will fulfill the body’s entire daily mineral and vitamin intake requirements.”

The total Sri Lankan imports of dates were valued at Rs. 116,306,798.00 in 2010, with the UAE as the leading supplier of dates to Sri Lanka.

            

At present, the UAE dominates the export of dates to Sri Lanka, and Pakistan date exporters are now looking to tap into UAE’s export and takeover as the main exporter of dates to Sri Lanka.

A Business Representative from Pakistan, K. Fecto of Supreme International said “At present we are looking to supply dates for domestic consumption as a table product. We also want to increase the supply of dates as a baking ingredient as well as meet the country’s need for dates for different religious activities and purposes. In the future, if we establish a bigger market here we might look to expand our date production presence and set up a processing plant in Sri Lanka.”

Commenting on how Sri Lanka would stand to benefit from increased date exports from Pakistan, Kayf (Pvt) Ltd, Managing Director, Mian Farasat Maqsood stated “Pakistan produces high quality dates and lowers the costs for the importer. By importing dates from Pakistan, Sri Lanka can save valuable foreign exchange. A container, which would otherwise cost US$ 1000 per tonne, would cost up to US$ 400 less if provided by a Pakistani exporter. Furthermore, Sri Lanka can benefit from our budget level date exports by adding value to our dates and re-exporting them to other markets.”

The delegates expressed their gratitude for the warm reception extended to them by the Sri Lankan officials and business stakeholders and explained that current foreign relations between the two countries were thriving. Pakistan is Sri Lanka’s second largest trading partner within the South Asian region and as a result of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA), bilateral trade between the two countries has strengthened with the value of trade doubling over three years to reach US$ 300 million. The delegation explained that the biggest challenge facing Pakistani date exporters was at the promotional and marketing level. Pakistani exporters are presently working to improve their promotional efforts to increase awareness of their high quality and low cost date export offering. The delegation explained that the next few years will be dedicated to introducing Sri Lankan markets to Pakistani date exports and generating a taste and greater demand for Pakistani dates throughout Sri Lanka.