By Syed Mussarat Khalil
JEDDAH — 10 Pakistani companies are participating in the Foodex Saudi exhibition organized by Reed Sunaidi Exhibition at Jeddah Center for Events & Forums.
Pakistan Pavilion in the exhibition was inaugurated by Prince Fahd Bin Muqran Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud on Monday.
Shehzad Ahmad Khan, commercial consular of Pakistan Consulate Jeddah, said Pakistan is participating in the exhibition with collaboration of Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) for the promoting bilateral trade between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia is the region’s largest food producer with 74.1 percent of total products in the GCC, it imports more than $25 billion worth of food and beverage products each year to meet its consumption demands. Yet growing at an annual rate of 18.5 percent due to expanding domestic market on account of burgeoning population and increasing annual pilgrimage, Saudi Arabia’s food and drink imports are likely to reach around $ 70 billion per annum in next four to five years, said Shehzad Ahmed Khan.
Shehryar Akbar Khan, consul general Pakistan, said that such events offer huge opportunity for Pakistani companies to further penetrate Saudi market and increase their market share. However, given the fact that Pakistan is an agricultural country and more than 50 percent of its exports are agro and textile-based, it has enormous potential to increase its exports by tapping «halal» food market of Saudi Arabia.
He appreciated the efforts of the Commercial Section of the Pakistan Consulate in extending full cooperation to Pakistani exporters in finding market for their products in Saudi Arabia.
