The Ministry of Commerce has evolved a strategy for a share in the agriculture and food market of the Russian federation and in this regard five products including citrus varieties, potato, rice, dairy products and tobacco have been identified for exports.
An official of the ministry announced that a business delegation of leading food exporters will visit Russia by the end of January.
The delegation will interact with Russian buyers to identify the routes and mode of payment during the period of US trade sactions on Russia.
Bilateral trade between the two countries stood at $419.34 million in 2013-14 as against $484.47m in the previous year, reflecting a decline of $65.13m or 13.45 per cent. The decline is mainly driven by falling Pakistan’s exports to Russia, which fell by 10.36pc during the period under review.
Currently, Pakistan’s major export items to Russia include woven cotton fabrics, fruit and fruit preparations, synthetic fabrics, rice all sorts, articles of apparel other than textile material, vegetables, medical and surgical instruments.
According to a ministry document, Russian food and agriculture imports stood at $43 billion last year. The major imports include beef products, dairy products, citrus, tomatoes, potatoes, tobacco, fish, apples, pears etc.
Pakistan’s average exports of citrus to Russia stood at $41.779m in the year 2013-14, a 2.480pc share in the total imports of Russia from the global imports of citrus which stood at $1.60bn.
Russian imports to Pakistan include weapons such as the Baikal brand of 12 guage shotguns and 9mm pistols such as Baikal Viking 446 and 442 and vintage red army surplus pistols such as the TT. These weapons are in hot demand in the Pakistani market. The Baikal MP 153 and MP 155 shotguns are considered the best hunting weapons by Pakistani enthusiasts while their AK 47, AK 74 and the new Vepr shotgun and .223 carbines are also fast gaining popularity in the market. Russian ammunition is also highly sought after, here in Pakistan.
