Pakistan looking to Thailand to jointly explore Global Halal market

Islamabad : Ambassador of Thailand to Pakistan Marut Jitpatima on Thursday said Pakistan can become world leader in USD 1.3 trillion Global Halal Food Market.

He said that the countries importing meat from Pakistan are very satisfied with the price and quality. However, there is always room for improvement which will help propel Pakistan’s economy, he stressed.

Pakistan and Thailand can jointly explore this promising market with around two billion customers and become world’s kitchen with proper initiatives and strategies, he said.

The Ambassador Marut Jitpatima said this while talking to a delegation led by Chairman Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), Capital Office, Hameed Akhtar Chadda. The delegation included Chairman FPCCI Standing Committee Media and PR Malik Sohail, SVC FPCCI Kanwar Qutbuddin, leading rice exporter Asim Sohail and others.

Thailand in world leader in poultry products and we can help develop Pakistan’s expanding poultry sector to become more competitive, he said. We are interested in investment and joint ventures in Pakistan’s energy sector, he added.

The Ambassador said that draft of Joint Trade Committee has been completed and we are looking forward for a FTA. He hoped that President FPCCI Senator Ghulam Ali will help boost trade.

“We are planning to establish a Thai Industrial Zone in Pakistan and looking forward to get the facility of bonded ware house,” said Jitpatima adding that construction of a Thai Plaza in Karachi is on the cards.

At the occasion, Mr. Chadda and Mr.Qutbuddin apprised the Ambassador of the enabling environment in Pakistan and assured cooperation of business community in identifying areas of cooperation.

The Ambassador agreed to the offer of Malik Sohail Hussain to launch a Thai Food festival in Islamabad on completion of 60 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

He also lauded the proposal of establishing Thai-Pakistan Trade and Cultural Centre in Islamabad.

Our bilateral trade is around one billion dollars that needs to be enhanced and balanced, said Malik Sohail Hussain adding that frequent exchange of trade delegations is imperative.

Pakistan can get benefit from Thai expertise in the tourism sector, he said.

He said that FPCCI will arrange meetings between Thai officials and business chambers across country to boost ties.

Sohail called upon government and business community to try to get benefit from Thailand’s prominent standing in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.