The Pakistan Pavilion at the 8th edition of AgriteQ (Qatar’s International Agricultural Exhibition) held at Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre (DECC) recently attracted a large number of visitors, customers and trading companies.
Pakistan has been a regular participant at AgriteQ and usually 10 to 20 exhibitors from Pakistan have participated in the previous editions of this exhibition. The participation has been carried out under the auspices of the vibrant Trade and Investment Wing of the Embassy of Pakistan and supported by Pakistan Business and Professionals Council, Qatar.
On this occasion, however, exhibitors from Pakistan could not travel to Doha because of the COVID-19 related travel restrictions.
With a view to ensuring maximum benefit for Pakistan’s participation in the exhibition, a preparatory meeting was held online with the participation of the Pakistan Embassy and the Pak-Qatar Business Council of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) on March 13. The meeting was also attended by the business community in Pakistan. Also present were FPCCI President Nasser Hyatt Maggo, Vice President Athar Sultan Chawla, Pak-Qatar Business Council Chairman Mehmood Arshad and Trade and Investment Attaché at the Pakistan Embassy Salman Ali.
"During the meeting it was agreed that companies that could not participate physically would send their brochures to the Pakistan embassy and companies with existing local distributors would participate through their local distributors to enhance their brand value in Qatar,” said Ali.
Following the meeting, different companies including Messrs Agricorp, Messrs HAC Agri and Messrs Inter-Fret Consolidators (Pvt) Ltd from Pakistan and Messrs Sunder Trading and Messrs Al-Muta’aly Trading from Qatar participated in AgriteQ under the Pakistan Pavilion.
Product information and samples from renowned Pakistani brands including Tapal, Qarshi, Menu, Simply the Great Food Honey, fruits and vegetables information from HAC Agri, and Seafood information from Inter-Fret Consolidators were on display.
Exotic products like herbal items from Qarshi, including blended tea from Tapal, Himalayan Pink Salt, Pehalwaan Rewri and Rewari Sohan Halwa from Multan were available for sampling.
Agricorp introduced two rice brands from Pakistan -- ‘Elaan’ and ‘Kashmir Hills’ -- at the Pakistani Pavilion. These are expected to hit the supermarket shelves in Qatar before the holy month of Ramadan. "This venture is a direct result of private Qatari investment in Pakistan and is set to introduce high quality basmati rice from the plains of Punjab that are fed with fresh water from the rivers flowing down from the Himalayas. The project is aimed at introducing the splendid taste and the wonderful aroma of high quality and authentic GMO-free basmati rice from Pakistan for the Qatari consumers, which is usually exported to North America and Western Europe,” remarked Ali.
Pakistan Ambassador to Qatar HE Syed Ahsan Raza Shah along with Trade and Investment Attaché Salman Ali visited the Pakistan Pavilion and appreciated the efforts of all concerned.
Ambassador of Portugal HE Antonio Jose Alves de Carvalho and Ambassador of Malaysia HE Zamshari Shaharan also visited the Pakistan Pavilion and praised the high quality of Pakistani products.
Director at Qatar’s Ministry of Municipality and Environment Mohammed Ali Al Khouri also visited the Pakistan Pavilion and personally met with all the exhibitors. He was delighted to see the wide range and diversity of Pakistani products and thanked Pakistan for its robust participation.
The visitors were once again introduced to the high quality of Pakistani products that are halal compliant.
"Pakistan’s free market economy and geographical proximity with Qatar, with a transit shipment time of only three-four days by sea, makes Pakistan an ideal partner for Qatar’s food security,” added Ali.
Pakistan has been a regular participant at AgriteQ and usually 10 to 20 exhibitors from Pakistan have participated in the previous editions of this exhibition. The participation has been carried out under the auspices of the vibrant Trade and Investment Wing of the Embassy of Pakistan and supported by Pakistan Business and Professionals Council, Qatar.
On this occasion, however, exhibitors from Pakistan could not travel to Doha because of the COVID-19 related travel restrictions.
With a view to ensuring maximum benefit for Pakistan’s participation in the exhibition, a preparatory meeting was held online with the participation of the Pakistan Embassy and the Pak-Qatar Business Council of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) on March 13. The meeting was also attended by the business community in Pakistan. Also present were FPCCI President Nasser Hyatt Maggo, Vice President Athar Sultan Chawla, Pak-Qatar Business Council Chairman Mehmood Arshad and Trade and Investment Attaché at the Pakistan Embassy Salman Ali.
"During the meeting it was agreed that companies that could not participate physically would send their brochures to the Pakistan embassy and companies with existing local distributors would participate through their local distributors to enhance their brand value in Qatar,” said Ali.
Following the meeting, different companies including Messrs Agricorp, Messrs HAC Agri and Messrs Inter-Fret Consolidators (Pvt) Ltd from Pakistan and Messrs Sunder Trading and Messrs Al-Muta’aly Trading from Qatar participated in AgriteQ under the Pakistan Pavilion.
Product information and samples from renowned Pakistani brands including Tapal, Qarshi, Menu, Simply the Great Food Honey, fruits and vegetables information from HAC Agri, and Seafood information from Inter-Fret Consolidators were on display.
Exotic products like herbal items from Qarshi, including blended tea from Tapal, Himalayan Pink Salt, Pehalwaan Rewri and Rewari Sohan Halwa from Multan were available for sampling.
Agricorp introduced two rice brands from Pakistan -- ‘Elaan’ and ‘Kashmir Hills’ -- at the Pakistani Pavilion. These are expected to hit the supermarket shelves in Qatar before the holy month of Ramadan. "This venture is a direct result of private Qatari investment in Pakistan and is set to introduce high quality basmati rice from the plains of Punjab that are fed with fresh water from the rivers flowing down from the Himalayas. The project is aimed at introducing the splendid taste and the wonderful aroma of high quality and authentic GMO-free basmati rice from Pakistan for the Qatari consumers, which is usually exported to North America and Western Europe,” remarked Ali.
Pakistan Ambassador to Qatar HE Syed Ahsan Raza Shah along with Trade and Investment Attaché Salman Ali visited the Pakistan Pavilion and appreciated the efforts of all concerned.
Ambassador of Portugal HE Antonio Jose Alves de Carvalho and Ambassador of Malaysia HE Zamshari Shaharan also visited the Pakistan Pavilion and praised the high quality of Pakistani products.
Director at Qatar’s Ministry of Municipality and Environment Mohammed Ali Al Khouri also visited the Pakistan Pavilion and personally met with all the exhibitors. He was delighted to see the wide range and diversity of Pakistani products and thanked Pakistan for its robust participation.
The visitors were once again introduced to the high quality of Pakistani products that are halal compliant.
"Pakistan’s free market economy and geographical proximity with Qatar, with a transit shipment time of only three-four days by sea, makes Pakistan an ideal partner for Qatar’s food security,” added Ali.