"Pakistan and Malaysia can also develop a joint global brand for Halal meat export," Malaysia Terengganu Province's economic adviser said, in a meeting with members of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry where a Malaysian delegation visited.
The adviser informed that half of the demand for meat in Malaysia is being fulfilled by importing meat from Australia, Brazil, New Zealand, India, China and Thailand, which are all non-Muslim countries. He noted with concern that not a single container of meat is being exported from Pakistan despite the fact that both Muslim countries have been enjoying excellent brotherly relations for many years," he said.
Haji Roslin told the KCCI members it was a very good opportunity for Pakistani meat exporters and they must collaborate with Malaysian business community to effectively penetrate the Malaysian market where only 24 percent meat is supplied locally. He said after visit by his Pakistani counterpart, now Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Bin Mohamad would be visiting Pakistan in March 2019. "Malaysian Ministers for Religion and Agriculture will also be here and they may endorse any Pakistani slaughter house or any meat processing factory intending to export meat to Malaysia," he said.
KCCI president Junaid Esmail Makda assured the delegates that the Karachi Chamber would certainly encourage exporters to dispatch meat to Malaysia and would also carry out a study to examine and identify the irritants responsible for zero export of meat from Pakistan to Malaysia.
"Any irritant that the study to reveal hindering meat trade between Pakistan and Malaysia, will certainly be brought to the notice of Federal Ministry of Commerce with a request to take steps for resolving the same to facilitate the exports of meat to Malaysia," he said.
Makda further said that the meat industry of Pakistan entered the world markets long ago and its red meat is in great demand particularly in Middle Eastern and Southeast Asian countries.
He said that the production of quality meat is directly linked with livestock, being produced in Pakistan. With agriculture as its backbone, Pakistan is said to be the fifth largest livestock producer in the world, he said.
KCCI president said that both countries share healthy bilateral relations based on cooperation in different economic spheres particularly in trade and investment. "In 2017, goods exported to Malaysia were merely $166.48 million while the imports worth $1,167.13 million indicate huge trade imbalance in favour of Malaysia by $1 billion," he said.
Makda said that KCCI wants to strengthen trade ties and explore new bilateral trade prospects with Malaysia. "We believe Pakistan's improved relations and enhanced trade with brotherly countries such as Malaysia would ensure prosperity and create a win-win situation for both the countries," he said, adding that Malaysian companies can choose between setting-up a liaison office, branch office or incorporate a Pakistani company as either its wholly owned subsidiary or joint venture with a Pakistani/overseas partner.
He opined that there was a huge potential for joint ventures and investment in the areas of Islamic Finance, Halal food industries, energy sector, low cost housing, infrastructure development, telecommunications and education, etc.
KCCI vice president Asif Sheikh Javaid, chairman of its Diplomatic Missions and Embassies Liaison Subcommittee Shamoon Zaki, ex-VP Agha Shahab Ahmed Khan and KCCI Managing Committee members also attended the meeting.