Burkina Faso, formerly known as Upper Volta, a landlocked country in West Africa. During the meeting, Safder Mehkri chairman REAP, Rafique Suleman and Abdul Rahim Janoo, former chairmen REAP, Ashfaq Ghaffar, Abdul Qayum Paracha, members of managing committee, Chela Ram, former senior vice chairman REAP and a number of rice exporters were present.
Ambassador of Burkina Faso thanked REAP leadership for giving him and his aides opportunity to meet with the Pakistani rice exporters. He said that Pakistani rice is liked by the people of Burkina Faso but there exists no direct import of Pakistani rice. He requested chairman REAP to send a trade delegation of rice exporters to Burkina Faso to explore the market. In this regard, he and his embassy would provide all necessary assistance.
Safder Mehkri, chairman REAP thanked him for the visit to REAP House Karachi and meetings with rice exporters. "There is no direct banking channel for payment for exports to Burkina Faso, of which Pakistani rice is being exporter via other destinations," he said. He requested the ambassador to play his role to resolve this issue by coordinating with the concerned ministries of both the countries. He said that Pakistani rice exporters are ready to visit Burkina Faso.
Rafique Suleman, former chairman REAP also thanked the ambassador and his team for meeting with Pakistani rice exporters. He said that Pakistan is leading exporter of rice because of quality and testy commodity. He said there is need to establish banking channel to enhance the bilateral trade. "REAP is ready to support all initiatives for establishing banking channel between two countries," he said.
Abdul Rahim Janoo, former chairman REAP said that REAP trade delegation could tentatively visit Burkina Faso in the month of August 2019. He expressed optimism that after the visit of REAP, trade delegation to Burkina Faso, bilateral trade would be increased and particularly rice exports would also get a boost which would be instrumental for fetching valuable foreign exchange to Pakistan.