Islamabad: The Embassy of Pakistan in the Netherlands has significantly contributed to the success of the FoodAg 2024, a prominent international agricultural exhibition held in Karachi. Through a series of strategic initiatives, the Embassy enhanced Pakistan’s agricultural visibility in the Dutch market, leading to robust participation at the event from August 8-12.
According to Press Information Department, the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) organized the event, which highlighted the diversity and richness of Pakistan’s agricultural products. The embassy’s role was crucial in promoting FoodAg 2024 within the Dutch market, organizing two key online meetings prior to the event that laid the groundwork for future collaborations. These meetings connected HVA International, a leading global agricultural firm, with Pakistani stakeholders for potential large-scale dairy farm projects and facilitated dialogue between Dutch potato seed breeders and Pakistani potato growers to introduce advanced potato genetics aimed at boosting production and exports.
The embassy’s efforts culminated in leading a strong delegation of Dutch buyers, investors, and experts to the exhibition, making it the largest from any EU Member State and ranking among the top ten globally. This significant Dutch presence at FoodAg 2024 underscores the growing interest in Pakistan’s agricultural sector and the potential for deepening trade relations between Pakistan and the Netherlands.
During the event, Mr. Muhammad Shafiq Haider Virk, the Embassy’s Counsellor for Trade and Investment, participated as a panelist in a discussion on enhancing exports of sustainable rice to the European Union. His insights highlighted the rising demand for sustainable food products in the Netherlands and outlined vast opportunities for increasing Pakistan’s agro and food exports to the EU.
Furthermore, the Dutch delegation had a productive meeting with the Minister for Commerce, Jam Kamal, expressing strong interest in purchasing Pakistani food products, including rice, and exploring investment opportunities in Pakistan’s burgeoning dairy sector.
The Embassy of Pakistan in the Netherlands continues to support TDAP’s efforts to promote Pakistan’s agricultural exports and foster stronger trade ties with the European Union, highlighting the importance of ongoing collaboration between TDAP and the Trade Mission in the Netherlands to enhance Pakistan’s presence in the EU market.