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KARACHI: Malaysia is expected to increase its rice import from Pakistan four times this year. This was disclosed by the Commercial Counselor for Pakistan High Commission Wajiuallah Kundi in Kuala Lumpur.
He said that Malaysian Padiberas National Berhad (BERNAS) and its group of companies which are involved in the procurement and processing of paddy, as well as import, warehousing, distribution and marketing of rice in Malaysia have been actively engaging Pakistan to bring about four fold increase in import of Pakistani rice with the objective to diversify its import base of rice and to minimise its dependence on rice import from Thailand and Vietnam.
The Malaysian import of rice from Thailand and Vietnam make up 45.91 and 34.5 per cent, respectively.
Currently Pakistan is the third biggest exporter of rice to Malaysia, but it makes up only 4.1 per cent of the total rice import which now have been projected to increase four fold in the year 2010.
The Commercial Counselor said that during the visit of the Minister of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry of Malaysia from 14th to 17th December, 2009 to Pakistan, the Malaysian importers secured many contracts for Pakistani companies for rice import, the trend will continue the year 2010 leading to substantial increase. In the year 2008, total rice export to Malaysia was valued at RM 110.97 million. -APP
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