Pakistan is intensifying its economic partnership with China under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to expand rice exports through improved market access and cooperation with Chinese state-owned enterprises. The Ministry of Commerce has submitted a list of priority export items, with rice at the top, and proposed facilitation measures including import duty waivers and special quotas.
Key discussions involve collaboration with China Oil and Foodstuffs Corporation (COFCO) to establish long-term procurement contracts, ensuring stable supply chains and higher export volumes. These efforts aim to integrate Pakistan’s agricultural sector more deeply into regional trade networks.
Parallel to China-focused strategies, Pakistan is negotiating a government-to-government MoU with the Philippines for the annual export of one million tonnes of rice over five years. Officials say these initiatives align with CPEC’s next phase, emphasizing agricultural modernization, industrial cooperation, and export-led growth.
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