ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is to target high-end export markets like the European Union (EU) for honey exports.

This was conveyed by the Prime Minister’s Advisor on Commerce, Textile, Industries and Production and Investment, Abdul Razak Dawood at a meeting with a delegation from the honey producers and exporters.

Pakistan is home to some of the most diverse flora and fauna and produces 20 types of honey due to its varied ecological and climatic conditions. Pakistan’s exports were $ 6.9 Million in 2018 and its major export destinations were Saudi Arabia (70.6 %), United Arab Emirates (15.1%) and Kuwait (6.3%). However, our honey exports are far below than the real potential especially to the high end markets.

The Advisor to PM underlined that the current government is focusing on the diversification of export products through policy intervention by providing technical and financial support. He further highlighted that in order to explore the untapped honey potential of the country Pakistan needs to acquaint the concerned stakeholders and business community of the honey producing regions like Abbottabad with the modern production techniques, encouragement, awareness of the private sector and the most important entrepreneurial growth and cluster development.

For this, there is a need to train our stakeholders so that can comply with requisite standards and SPS requirements of high-end markets including EU which will increase our honey export manifold. He also emphasized that Ministry of Commerce (MoC) would constitute a product (honey) specific working group comprising of all the stakeholders including, honey producers, exporters, marketing experts and researchers to devise a strategy in order to overcome the bottlenecks and to develop production & marketing techniques that will help boosting the country’s honey export. MoC will also provide technical and financial assistance to honey exporters in local and international markets in order to target high end markets like EU. Further, it will help in developing linkages with local business community, beekeepers and other stakeholders to evaluate the trade potential of this viable sector.

MoC has formulated Geographical Indication (GI) Law and E-Commerce Policy which will help SMEs to enhance their exports through registration of the local honey verities in international and online sales, Advisor to PM added.—PR