ISLAMABAD: Qatar has expressed interest in expanding rice imports from Pakistan as part of efforts to strengthen its food security, officials said following a virtual meeting between the commerce ministers of the two countries.
Pakistan’s Commerce Minister Jam Kamal and Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Trade Affairs, Dr Ahmad bin Mohammed Al Sayed, held discussions on a range of economic matters, with rice exports emerging as a key area of cooperation.
According to official statements released on Thursday, the meeting focused on exploring opportunities to enhance bilateral trade and investment between the two countries.
Dr Ahmad highlighted the importance of rice in Qatar’s national food strategy and its broader food security programme. He said Doha is interested in increasing rice imports from Pakistan to ensure stable and reliable food supplies, particularly in light of current regional challenges.
Trade activity
Both ministers also stressed the need to strengthen engagement between the private sectors of Pakistan and Qatar to facilitate greater trade activity. Dr Ahmad emphasised that closer collaboration between business communities in both countries would play an important role in expanding trade, especially in agriculture and food-related sectors.
The talks also addressed broader economic cooperation, with both sides reaffirming their commitment to deepening bilateral relations in multiple areas.
The potential increase in rice imports is expected to benefit both countries by supporting Qatar’s food security objectives while creating new export opportunities for Pakistan’s agricultural sector.
The discussions come at a time when regional conflicts and global uncertainties have raised concerns about food supply chains, prompting countries such as Qatar to diversify their sources of food imports.
Officials, however, did not provide further details about the timeline or mechanisms for implementing the proposed increase in rice imports.
