Pakistan has reached out to the Philippines for increased rice procurement, backed by surplus stocks and stable quality output. The development came during a meeting between Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan and Dr Emmanuel R. Fernandez, Ambassador of the Philippines to Pakistan, according to a statement issued on Friday.
During the meeting, held on the directions of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the commerce minister conveyed the prime minister’s keen interest in identifying priority markets for Pakistan’s rice exports and formally requested the Philippine leadership to consider additional procurement from Pakistan.
He highlighted that Pakistan is currently on a strong agricultural output trajectory, with ample surplus rice stocks available for export, while maintaining consistent quality standards.
Jam Kamal noted that global market dynamics have evolved with the re-entry of major suppliers, intensifying price competition.
“To address this, the Government of Pakistan has developed a mechanism to ensure benchmark price competitiveness, including financial bridging where required, so that Pakistani rice remains competitive while assuring buyers of quality and quantity,” read the statement.
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He emphasised that if Pakistan is able to closely match prevailing market prices, there is strong scope for expanding bilateral rice trade through institutional engagement between the relevant authorities of both countries.
The commerce minister further informed the envoy that Pakistan has identified the Philippines as one of the key partner countries for enhanced rice exports. He stressed that timely coordination between both sides would help materialise mutually beneficial arrangements, particularly in view of upcoming procurement tenders in the Philippines.
Ambassador Dr Emmanuel R. Fernandez welcomed Pakistan’s outreach, describing it as a positive step toward deepening bilateral trade and investment relations.
He acknowledged Pakistan’s longstanding position among the top three rice suppliers to the Philippines and noted that Pakistan has strong potential not only to maintain but also to increase its market share.
He informed that the forthcoming session of the Pakistan–Philippines Joint Economic Commission (JEC), expected to be held in February, would place rice trade high on its agenda.
During the meeting, both sides reviewed progress on a draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) under negotiation between the Ministry of Commerce of Pakistan and the Ministry of Agriculture of the Philippines, envisaging government-to-government procurement over a multi-year period.
It was noted that technical teams are in close coordination, with a Pakistani delegation scheduled to engage with Philippine counterparts to expedite finalisation of the MoU ahead of upcoming tenders.
The meeting also discussed tariff-related considerations and the importance of addressing cost competitiveness to facilitate greater volumes of Pakistani rice exports. The Pakistani side underscored that early conclusion of the MoU would help manage surplus stocks and ensure continuity of supply to the Philippine market.
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In addition to rice, the Commerce Minister briefly highlighted Pakistan’s interest in expanding exports of kinnow (mandarin) to the Philippines and requested that related tariff issues be considered through appropriate institutional forums, including the JEC.
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