Beijing: Pakistani aquatic product exporters are increasingly benefiting from zero tariffs and gaining a deeper understanding of the China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement (CPFTA). Ghulam Qadir, the commercial counselor of the Pakistani Embassy in China, revealed that new species have been registered under the second phase of CPFTA, paving the way for increased exports to China.
Currently, numerous Pakistani companies are actively seeking to enhance collaboration with Chinese partners to boost their aquatic product exports. A recent development saw a Pakistani agricultural delegation, led by Shahid Firoz, representative of Pakistan Arfeen Group and vice chairman of Belt and Road Development Company, visiting the China Aquatic Products Processing and Marketing Alliance (CAPPMA) in Beijing on September 13. The delegation engaged in in-depth discussions on advancing China-Pakistan cooperation in the aquaculture industry.
Shahid Firoz expressed the primary purpose of their visit, stating, “Our company is a comprehensive enterprise in Pakistan with businesses covering trade, food processing, agriculture, etc. We also own abundant water resources such as lakes and reservoirs. The main purpose of our visit is to establish connections with excellent aquatic product companies.” Firoz further hoped for assistance from Chinese enterprises to facilitate aquaculture development and promote trade cooperation.
Cui He, chairman of CAPPMA, emphasized the association’s willingness to support Arfeen Group in building partnerships with other aquatic product companies. He stated, “We have rich experience and knowledge in the circulation and processing of aquatic products. We are willing to provide necessary technical and marketing support to Pakistani friends for the development of the fishery industry.”
Recognizing the immense potential in Pak-China cooperation in the aquaculture industry, Shahid Firoz expressed readiness to take actions to deepen collaboration. He highlighted areas such as improving production efficiency and product quality in the aquaculture sector through the application of China’s advanced technology and experience. Additionally, Firoz suggested joint efforts to promote the processing and sales of Pakistani aquatic products in the Chinese market. He also emphasized the potential for increased imports of Chinese fish fry and fish feed through enhanced marketing with Pakistani support.