Türkiye has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening economic ties with Pakistan, with both countries agreeing to send technical delegations to advance discussions on rice trade. The Federal Minister for Commerce, Jam Kamal Khan, met with Turkish Ambassador Dr. Irfan Nezirolu at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to review and enhance bilateral trade cooperation, focusing on increasing Pakistan’s rice exports to Türkiye.
During the meeting, Jam Kamal Khan highlighted that Pakistan has recorded a strong rice harvest this season, creating a surplus available for export. He noted that competition from major exporters such as India and Vietnam has put downward pressure on global prices, despite Pakistan maintaining strong export volumes. To address this, the Pakistani government has developed a pricing support mechanism in consultation with exporters and industry representatives, ensuring export prices remain aligned with global rates while safeguarding farmer incomes. Pakistan is prepared to supply both basmati and non-basmati rice to Türkiye at internationally competitive rates, prioritizing volume growth over price maximization.
Both sides discussed activating government-to-government trade channels alongside private-sector mechanisms, including bulk procurement through state-linked institutions. Key market-access issues were also addressed, such as tariff-rate quotas (TRQs), import licensing procedures, and the potential for zero or reduced tariffs on basmati rice. The Federal Minister urged Türkiye to expand and better utilize the existing TRQ of 18,000 metric tons under the Pakistan–Türkiye Preferential Trade Agreement, noting that procedural constraints had limited past usage.
Turkish Ambassador Dr. Irfan Neziroglu welcomed Pakistan’s proposals and reiterated Türkiye’s commitment to deepening economic relations. He observed that bilateral trade volumes remain below potential despite strong political ties and recalled the joint target of achieving $5 billion in bilateral trade, set during the Pakistan–Türkiye High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council meeting.
Both parties agreed on the importance of enhanced engagement between business communities through trade delegations, exhibitions, and B2B interactions to raise awareness of commercial opportunities. Technical delegations will meet in the coming weeks to advance discussions on rice trade, PTA expansion, and broader cooperation in agriculture, food processing, and value-added rice products, including parboiled rice. The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to fast-track technical consultations, improve quota utilization, and expand Pakistan’s presence in the Turkish and regional rice markets, including re-export opportunities to neighboring countries.
