KARACHI: Pakistan’s trade authorities and diplomats facilitated a visit by rice exporters to Oman this week to strengthen bilateral trade and explore new avenues for cooperation.
A delegation from the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP), comprising 18 members, held talks with officials at the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) and other stakeholders during a three-day visit from April 27 to 29, a statement said on Wednesday.
Discussions focused on increasing Pakistan’s rice exports to Oman and improving supply chains to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) markets. OCCI Chairperson Sheikh Faisal bin Abdullah Al Rawas indicated interest in strengthening trade links and said a delegation of Omani importers is expected to visit Pakistan later in May.Pakistan’s mission in Muscat also organised business-to-business meetings between exporters and Omani importers, distributors and retailers, aimed at facilitating direct commercial ties.
Separately, meetings with shipping firms, port authorities and officials from Oman’s transport ministry addressed logistics constraints, including congestion and delays at regional hubs. Participants discussed alternative routing options through Omani ports to streamline exports to GCC destinations.
The delegation also met officials from Oman’s Food Security Authority, which procures staples for strategic reserves, to better understand registration and tendering processes for rice imports. Omani officials indicated they would hold further briefings for Pakistani exporters on participation procedures.
