8th december,2014 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine by DAILY RICE NEWS LETTER

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine www.ricepluss.com

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter 8 December, 2014

Volume 4 Issue: XI

Vol 4, Issue XII

Today’s News Headlines…

          

Rice can help treat cholera better: Study Long dry spell expected to dampen rice production Distressed cotton and rice growers Iran, Sindh govt to enhance bilateral trade SP okays half-rice ordinance Rice exports: Is Vietnam subsidizing foreign consumers? Farming nearly mechanised Boosting exports: Paris gets taste of traditional Pakistani rice ICCI for focusing on China to improve trade, exports Exhibition held in Paris to promote rice export Mamnoon hails EU’s role for strengthening democracy in Pakistan

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine News Detail…. Rice can help treat cholera better: Study — By FPJ Bureau | Dec 08, 2014 12:12 am

London : Replacing glucose with rice powder in the oral rehydration therapy for cholera can reduce toxicity by almost 75 per cent, a new study has found, reports PTI.The main treatment for cholera involves oral rehydration therapy where the patient drinks water mixed with salts and glucose.Although proven to be enormously effective, there are concerns that the glucose content might actually worsen the disease, researchers said. Scientists at the Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne in Switzerland have shown that glucose increases the toxicity of the cholera bacterium, whereas replacing glucose with starch can reduce its toxicity by almost 75 per cent.The usual treatment for cholera involves feeding the patient water mixed with electrolyte salts and glucose. The idea is to replace the patient‘s lost fluids and essential salts, while the glucose acts as a source of carbon and helps the intestine to absorb the salts more efficiently.The patient continues the therapy until the infection has ran its course. Up to half of cholera patients would die without treatment, but oral rehydration therapy has

been shown to lower the deaths to around 1 per cent, ‗Medicalxpress‘ reported. However, there are concerns that using glucose in the rehydration mixture can actually exacerbate the disease.The problem is that the infecting bacterium also consumes glucose, and that increases the expression of its genes that make it toxic.Melanie Blokesch and Andrea Rinaldo at EPFL correlated data from a recent cholera outbreak in Haiti with the effectiveness of oral rehydration therapy. Blokesch‘s lab grew the cholera bacterium with different sugars (eg glucose, sucrose) and starch from potatoes and rice to see how each would affect the cholera toxin genes.Scientists found that both the activity of the genes, as well as the production of the cholera toxin itself were increased when the bacterium was fed with glucose, but they were considerably decreased when it was fed with starch from rice.The research was published in the journal PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases. - See more at: http://freepressjournal.in/rice-can-help-treatcholera-better-study/#sthash.sVXLWyJE.dpuf

Long dry spell expected to dampen rice production Ronnel W. Domingo Philippine Daily Inquirer 2:36 AM | Monday, December 8th, 2014

MANILA, Philippines–The probability that the El Niño weather disturbance will occur in the near future has climbed back up to 70 percent, but a ―strong‖ event is not expected, according to a United Nations agency.In its latest market monitoring report, the Agriculture Market Information System

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine (AMIS) said the global rice supply situation would remain ―generally favorable,‖ although the rice production forecast for 2014 still indicated a decline from that of 2013.The AMIS, which is administered by the Food and Agriculture Organization, attributes the expected decline—by 2 million tons to 496 million tons—to contracting output in India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Last month, expectations of a long, dry spell that could dampen food production were pegged at a 50-percent chance.Citing information from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) and the International Research Institute for Climate and Society (IRI), the AMIS noted that atmospheric and sea surface conditions pointed to a 70percent probability that the El Niño could last until January.The criteria for an actual El Niño, however, have not been met ―because the conditions have not been in place long enough, and certain atmospheric features have not yet appeared,‖ the AMIS said. ―A strong event is not expected, in any case.‖Still, the agency noted that the IRI forecast indicated an increased chance of below-average precipitation in Southeast Asia.Rice farmers in the Philippines are currently in the latter stage of harvest. But food security authorities have raised their concerns over the possible effects of Typhoon ―Ruby‖ on agricultural production.According to Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala, some 12,000 bags of seeds are now ready for distribution, and the department has started to make preparations for what has been described to be the strongest typhoon to hit the country this year.―We advise farmers, whose crops are ready, to harvest quickly before Ruby arrives,‖ Alcala said on Friday. ―We want to minimize the effect of this typhoon.

‖A total of 691,692 hectares planted to palay, and 303,542 hectares planted to corn are ready for harvest, he said.In the Eastern Visayas alone, Alcala added, a total of 3,800 bags of certified seeds and 8,300 bags of hybrid seeds—all from the Philippine Rice Research Institute—have been made ready for quick replanting.Overall, the Department of Agriculture has prepared a buffer stock of seeds totaling 78,479 bags for rice, and 17,554 for corn. It has also issued directives for the relocation of livestock and other farm animals from high-risk areas. source with thanks: http://business.inquirer.net/183153/l ong-dry-spell-expected-to-dampen-riceproduction#ixzz3LJObfs6O

Distressed cotton and rice growers Ahmad Fraz Khan

The monthly report of the International Cotton Advisory Committee has pointed out a 6pc loss in cotton consumption because of persistent energy crisis in Pakistan, while persistent low cotton prices are forcing farmers to shift to other competing crops with better returns.

Coupled with this cotton crisis is the problematic rice surplus, particularly of basmati, and the agri business picture worsens for everyone — from farmers to

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine traders to industry.What makes the situation even more frustrating is the government‘s failure to tackle the long-standing, underlying and aggravating problems of cotton growers. Instead, when the cotton rates fell much below the cost of production, the government, asked the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) to lift 1m bales off the market and help stabilise the falling prices.The procurement is currently stuck at 390,000 bales and markets rates have not improved. The TCP has stopped receiving samples for procurement. For the rice crisis, the government announced a compensation plan for the basmati farmers, modalities of which were to be decided later on. Its revenue department has no data about who sows basmati and who does not. Without such precise data, how would it dole out compensation — cash or kind? No one really knows; at least in Punjab, where basmati is sown. Thus, neither the nature of subsidy is decided yet nor the list of recipients has yet been finalised.

What makes the situation more frustrating is the government’s failure to tackle the long standing, underlying and aggravating problems of cotton growers

One needs to imagine that had the electricity problem not dented consumption by 6pc, the total increase could have been close to 10pc and disposal of cotton much quicker and consistent, improving domestic rates.The ministry of commerce still hopes that the consumption would increase by 2pc to hit a figure of 2.3m bales.Similarly, had the government institutions planned better for rice and arrested the declining trend, it

would not have needed to come up with any subsidy plan.The cotton price for farmers has been a persistent problem, which the government had ignored for long. The farmers responded by decreasing acreage under the crop. For the last few years, the area under crop has dropped by almost 1m acres. With the power crisis deepening each year, the industry is unable, or unwilling, to buy crop produced even from that reduced area. It is the industry‘s crisis, which has now attracted official attention, not the farmers‘ plight. Though both are interlinked, the government prefers industry.Even now, the government is concentrating on one-off solutions; subsidy for basmati farmers and inducting TCP for cotton growers. Instead, it should focus on business cycles.The textile industry needs power at affordable rates. There is no way the government cannot provide it, even during these crises. With the entire industry needing around 3,000MW — out of total demand of 24,000MW — and some solution has to be found with better management. For basmati, the government has the option of concentrating on the Gulf, Middle Eastern and neighbouring states, where basmati rice is in huge demand. The European Union pays premier price for it. The only thing both these commodities need is better domestic planning — on sustained and efficient level. Published in Dawn, Economic & Business, December 8th , 2014

Iran, Sindh govt to enhance bilateral trade Staff Report December 07, 2014

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

KARA CHI: Iran and the Sindh govern ment agreed to enhance bilateral investment and trade volume and bring chambers of commerce and industry of Karachi and Tehran closer.Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah talking to Ambassador of Islamic Republic of Iran, Rasool Islami, said Sindh was growing comparatively good quality of rice and it could enhance its volume of export to Iran in exchange of importing energy to meet the provinceâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s requirements.The chief minister said that Sindh has good potential of investment especially in energy sector and invited Iranian investors to avail opportunities for which the provincial government would provide land and other facilities to them. He said that Sindh has wind corridors from 40 to 45 kilometres where Iran-Pak Wind Power Limited was already working to establish 50 megawatts wind power project but the government was eager to allot more land to other Iranian investors for more investments in wind energy sector. â&#x20AC;&#x2022;We should further cooperate to bring progress in economic and social sectors in the interest of people of the both sides,â&#x20AC;&#x2013; he said.Iranian Ambassador Rasool Islami said he and people of his country considered people of Pakistan and especially Sindh as their brothers.

He said due to similarities in religion, culture and literature, people of Iran like Allama Iqbal while the people of Pakistan/Sindh like poets/writers of Iran. He said Iranian companies were more inclined to invest in Sindh, whereas Iranian traders were interested to import Pakistani rice, wheat and meat.He said that the Iranian government would encourage their investors to do business with Pakistan. The ambassador said that trade volume between the two countries would be enhanced and hoped by virtue of their and good relations they could achieve a lot http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/sindh/07-Dec2014/iran-sindh-govt-to-enhance-bilateral-trade

SP okays half-rice ordinance An ordinance ordering food chains, restaurants, hotels, pension houses, inns, canteens, steakhouses, eateries, carinderias and all other food businesses in Bacolod City to serve only half orders of rice, was passed by the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod on third and final reading Wednesday.The ordinance authored by Councilor El Cid Familiaran said that globally, the prices of rice continue to surge, which, in effect creates shortage. Foreign news reports state that, among the countries hit by rice shortage are Bangladesh and China.The ordinance said analysts have concluded that the causes of shortages and high prices of rice vary from country to country and include natural disasters or adverse weather patterns; high cost of fuel that adds to transport costs, hoarding and smuggling and indiscriminate conversion of agricultural lands. Due to its limited lands for rice production, the Philippines relies on rice imports from other Asian countries, particularly, Vietnam, Thailand

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine and Japan. In 2008, it was reported that the country had 4.2 million hectares of land devoted to rice production, however only 1.4 million hectares of which are irrigated, it said.Among the doable and proactive measures is to prevent cooked ‗rice wastage‘ that is prevalent in the different restaurants and food businesses in the city.The International Rice Research Institute reported that the country wastes at least P23 million worth of rice per day or P8 billion worth of rice a year, it added. The ordinance provides penalties to establishment owners who refuse to serve half order of cooked rice ranging from P1,000 for the first violation, P2,000 for the second violation and P3,000 for the third offense, and P4,000 following each successive offenses.*CGS

total rice exports of Vietnam in 2013. Rice exports are subsidised in the input stage so the more Vietnam exports rice, the more it subsidizes foreign users, Thanh said.

He explained that when townspeople pay taxes, the taxes are used to directly support farmers through the construction of road and irrigation works. This expense is not included in the sale price of rice so when rice is sold to townsmen, it is no problem because it should be seen as the townsmen subsidizing the rice price. However, when rice is exported, that expense cannot be regained when Vietnam is competing with low prices.The findings also indicate that rice production in Vietnam remains at medium quality and low price.

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2014/December/05/businessnews2.htm

Rice exports: Is Vietnam subsidizing foreign consumers? VietNamNet Bridge – Reviewing the effectiveness of rice exports and solutions to improve the position and role of farmers is the subject in the recent research "Structure of the rice industry and the interests of small producers" by the Agricultural Alliance. Export more rice?

Dr. Nguyen Duc Thanh - Director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research and a member of the research team – said that Vietnam‘s policy to export more rice may not be a wise strategy.According to Thanh, state food companies still dominate the export market as Vinafood corporations 1 and 2 accounted for more than 40% of

For the same rice variety, Thailand usually sells it at the highest price and Vietnam at the lowest price. For example, in July 2012, Thailand exported rice at $592 per ton compared to $415 per ton for Vietnam.Therefore, Thanh recommended that Vietnam‘s agriculture in general and rice industry in particular should focus on the domestic market instead of foreign ones. Then Vietnam will move the labor force from agriculture to industry because if farmers are stuck with land and agriculture, they will hardly be able to improve their living standards. Lessons from Thailand

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine The market structure characteristics of Vietnam rice is described as a chain with various stages of production, starting from farmers who sell paddy in the fields to traders. Traders purchase the paddy and then sell it to the millers and then rice exporters. Farmers who have no storage and lack of capital have to sell rice to traders at low prices and often take the highest risk.To deal with this situation, Dao The Anh, deputy director of the Institute for Food Plants, said that the role of cooperatives and farmers' organizations is very important. Dr. Nguyen Van Giap of the Institute for Rural Strategy and Policy, said in Thailand the milling systems were invested in the 1940s and they still work very well today, so the competitiveness of Thai rice is better than Vietnam. Thailand's rice production chain has only three stages: production, millers and exporters.Dr. Vo Tri Thanh, Deputy Director of the Institute for Economic Management, said: "To implement an agricultural revolution, Vietnam must have a scale advantage, a value chain and capital-technology absorbing organizations, and finally, these organizations must serve the rights of farmers. The idea on institutional reform of agriculture was mentioned in a speech delivered by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung in early 2014."

VND7,200 per kg while that with 25-percent broken grains, VND6,850 to VND6,950 per kg. This year, the country expects to export 6.5 to 7 million tonnes of rice, worth about $3 billion, revealed the VFA.Traditional export markets for Vietnamese rice include Singapore, mainland China, Hong Kong and Cote d'Ivoire, as well as Algeria and Indonesia.The association also predicted that 2015 will be a tough year for Vietnam's rice exporters in the face of fierce competition from their Thai rivals because Thailand has concentrated on recovering traditional rice markets in Africa and expanding its markets in Asia, especially the Philippines, Indonesia and China. Lan Anh Tags:rice export,rice farmer,vietnamese rice,rice price,thai rice,

Farming nearly mechanised Farmers bag more crops; come new jobs, go old ones Sohel Parvez

Rice exports hit over 6 million tonnes in 11 months Vietnam earned nearly 3 billion USD from exporting more than 6 million tonnes of rice in the first 11 months of 2014, according to the Vietnam Food Association (VFA).The association reported that at present, the prices of dried unhusked rice in the Mekong Delta region range from VND5,450 to VND5,750 per kg.Rice with five-percent broken grains is sold at VND7,100-

FAREWELL TO TRADITIONAL FARMING. Machines are fast replacing labour-intensive agricultural tools. In the recently shot pictures, a farmer is using a power tiller to plough his land in Keraniganj near Dhaka. Photo: Anisur Rahman

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine Gone are the days when farmers had to put in backbreaking labour and depend fully on animals to prepare land and thresh harvested crops. Farmers now thresh more than 90 percent of their grain crops by machines and till nearly 90 percent of cultivable land by power tillers and tractors -- a transition that took place over the last two and a half decades.This has enabled growers to produce more crops in a year and bag more produce with lower production cost, according to experts at agro-research institutions and Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU). Aware of the benefits of mechanised farming, more and more farmers are now using machines for harvesting, seeding and planting."It has become a big boon for our farming. Using power tillers, we can prepare land quicker than we do by using animals. Use of machines has reduced our time for tilling and given us scope to grow more crops," said ASM Sisnabi Mandal of Dinajpur district, a major crop zone in the northwest.The 40-year-old farmer grew only two rice crops -- Aman and Boro-- in a year on his 10-acre farmland when he had to depend on bulls or buffaloes for land preparation. Now by using power tiller, he gets one additional crop every year.

A group of labourers, carrying a handheld plough and a ladder are looking for work in Narsingdi. Photo: Anisur Rahman

"Now I grow potato or mustard after harvesting Aman rice. It is possible because less time is required for land preparation by using machines," he said.Sisnabi is one of the tens of thousands of farmers in the country who are reaping the advantage of using modern tools in farming. No official estimate on agricultural mechanisation is available. But various publications and studies show that use of machines have grown since the 90s."Mechanised farm practices expanded fast mostly for private initiatives augmented by policy support from the government," said Monjurul Alam, professor of Farm Power and Machinery at the BAU.Power tillers and tractors were used to prepare nearly 70 percent of land four to five years ago; their use accelerated in the last five to six years, he said.Faced with labour scarcity and spiralling wages, farmers switched to farm machinery, thanks to the emergence of rental services for tilling, irrigation and other farm operations."Farm wages rose

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine rapidly in the past decade and a half due to a shift of labour to non-farm sectors. As a result, farmers have switched to mechanisation," said Economist Mahabub Hossain, former director general of Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies.

Use of mechanised instruments in farming helping farmers lower production cost as a machine in many cases can do the job of a hundred men. The photo on top shows farmers using a transplanter to plant rice seedlings onto a paddy field. File Photo

"If the current trend continues, there will be a huge progress in the next five to seven years in areas lagging behind in terms of mechanisation," said Monjurul, who conducted a study on value chain in agrimachinery in Bangladesh. IMPACT OF MECHANISATION Mechanisation of land preparation has contributed to timely cultivation and thus increased cropping intensity (the number of crops grown on a piece of land in a year; one crop a year means intensity 100 percent), reduced yield losses and wastage.

Nearly 20,000 power tillers and tractors are added every year for farming purposes, according to a 2012 International Development Enterprise estimate, commissioned by the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre.

Supported by the government's scheme of subsidised sale of farm machinery in the

As a result, total production of food, supported by an increased use of improved seeds, fertiliser use and commercial farming, has risen, according to analysts.Increasing demand for agricultural machinery has also

recent years and private sector's increased marketing and sales drives, modern tools like power tillers, rice reapers, combined harvesters and transplanting machines are now easily available to help end the centuries-old drudgery.

created thousands of jobs, facilitated development of the rural non-farm sector and spurred growth of farm machinery and spare parts industries.It has also boosted establishment of workshops for repair and maintenance services.

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine A reaper mounted on a tractor is harvesting rice. File Photo

Besides being imported, threshers, maize shellers, spare parts of power tillers, diesel engines and centrifugal pumps are also made locally. The annual market for farm machinery and spare parts stands at around Tk 10,000 crore and it is growing, according to stakeholders.Mahabub said a positive effect of mechanised farming is a reduction in the turnaround time to grow crops. "It has a positive impact on cropping intensity." Cropping intensity rose to 191 percent in 2012-13, up from 168 percent in 1988-89 when farm machinery imports were liberalised and the standardisation requirement was withdrawn for shortage of draught animals after the 1988 floods.Total food grain production rose to 3.55 crore tonnes in 2013-14 fiscal year, from 1.66 crore tonnes in FY 1988-89, according to Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. Monjurul said mechanisation was the main factor behind increased cropping intensity in the last one decade and spiral in overall food production.The cost of production has also

come down, said Mahabub.Farmer Sisnabi said use of power tillers has reduced tilling cost of half acre to Tk 1,000 from Tk 1,400 needed if animals are used.Referring to a study, ATM Ziauddin, professor of Farm Power and Machinery at the BAU, in an article said that farmers make extra gains by using power tillers for land preparation. They gain Tk 3,003 more per hectare by using power tillers instead of animals in Boro season and Tk 1,019 in Aman season.

Farmers separating the grain from rice plants using a threshing machine. File Photo

Use of machines has also cut down the cost of threshing. Sisnabi said it would cost him Tk 1,200 for manually threshing rice output of half acre of land. Now he can do this by spending half the amount."Crop wastage has also decreased in mechanised threshing. We could not collect all grains from plant through manual threshing. Now, we get almost the whole," he said.Shoeb Hassan, chief scientific officer of farm power division of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, said delayed plantation causes yield losses, but mechanised tilling has facilitated timeliness of operations.He said more than 90 percent of grain crops are now threshed by using machines. Traditional means of threshing causes over 10 percent loss of crops, while mechanisation has brought down threshing

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine losses to 5 percent, he added."Mechanisation is the only option for timely crop production. To increase production and cropping intensity, it has become essential to mechanise certain farm operations," according to a recent publication by Bangladesh Rice Research Institute.However, progress in mechanised harvesting remains slow in the absence of harvesters suitable to fragmented pieces of land. "Smaller harvesting machines are needed. Efforts should be made to see whether it is possible to introduce the smaller ones," said economist Mahabub.Farmer Sisnabi said machines have relieved them of many hassles and tension and enabled them to do farm-related jobs timely. They now do not have to wait for labourers.He said he is not familiar with harvesters as the technology is yet to expand in his locality. "Power tillers have become suitable for us. If any other machine is found convenient for us and do not affect our land and environment, we will adopt that as well." WWW.DAILYSTART.COM

Boosting exports: Paris gets taste of traditional Pakistani rice By APP Published: December 6, 2014

Rice export from Pakistan to France was worth $31.72 million during JanuarySeptember 2014. STOCK IMAGE ISLAMABAD:

Pakistanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s embassy in Paris organised a rice exhibition in its premises on Thursday in an effort to promote the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rice in the European nation.

The show was also aimed at facilitating meetings between Pakistani exporters and French importers for promoting rice export. Rice export from Pakistan to France was worth $31.72 million during JanuarySeptember 2014, most of which was consumed by the ethnic market. It was expected that the exhibition would help increase rice export, said a message received from Paris on Friday.A number of French importers were invited to participate and meet Pakistani exporters, who were invited to Paris especially for the event.The embassy coordinated their meetings in order to have detailed discussions on business proposals.Services of a top French chef Alian Stril were acquired to serve Basmati rice. He prepared three different French dishes while traditional Pakistani dishes like Biryani, Zarda and Kheer made by Pakistani cooks were also presented. Published in The December 6th, 2014.

Express

Tribune,

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China due to the advantages in agriculture,

http://tribune.com.pk/story/802530/boostingexports-paris-gets-taste-of-traditional-pakistanirice/

Besides, Pakistan has comparative advantage of

ICCI for focusing on China to improve trade, exports

minerals, chemical, textiles and leather products.

oil seeds, fruits, base metals, plastic goods and perfumery and stressed that government should accelerate efforts to facilitate entrepreneurs in promoting trade with China.Shakeel Munir said the global economic power was shifting towards Asia led by China and it was the right time for

ISLAMABAD (APP): ICCI on Friday called for

Pakistan to reorient its economic strategies to

developing strategic partnerships with China to

enhance cooperation with China, which would

improve trade and exports of Pakistan. ―The

yield beneficial outcomes for its economy.

govt should reprioritize its traditional approach of looking towards Western countries‖, Acting President, ICCI M.Shakeel Munir said in a statement here Friday. He said ―We should be more focused towards China as it offered immense opportunities of promoting Pakistan‘s commercial and economic interests.‖ He said that bilateral trade between India and China had surpassed US$ 65b during 2013 while Pakistan‘s trade with China was hovering around $ 10-12 billion despite the fact that there was huge potential to improve it,according to press release issued by ICCI. He said both countries had signed a Free Trade Agreement in November 2006 in addition to finalizing almost 358 Joint Agreements, MoUs,

He said Pakistan should encourage and facilitate its private sector in establishing joint ventures with Chinese counterparts in energy, textile, agro farming, food processing, pharmaceutical, engineering goods and other areas of potential cooperation.He said China could also help Pakistan in developing and modernizing its SMEs

sector.He

said

that

evolving

international Political dynamics,China‘s rise as a major global power, it was important for Pakistan to reassess and review the strengths and challenges of its relationship with China in order to move forward in a positive manner.

Exhibition held in Paris to promote rice export

Joint Declarations and arrangements covering almost every sector of economy, but necessary

ISLAMABAD (APP): Pakistan embassy in Paris

measures could not be taken to fully materialize

has organized a rice exhibition at its premises on

these mechanisms due to which the two-way

Thursday and facilitated meetings between

trade was still far below the desired level.He

Pakistani exporters and French importers for

said Pakistan enjoyed huge export potential to

promoting the rice export to the French market.

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine The import of rice from Pakistan to France was worth $ 31.72 million during January-September 2014, most of which was consumed by ethnic market. It is expected that the exhibition will help increase the rice export, said a message received from Paris on Friday. A number of French importers were invited to participate and meet some Pakistani rice exporters who were invited to Paris especially

strengthening

for this event. The embassy coordinated their

institutions in Pakistan.The president

meetings to have detailed discussion over their

talking to Member of the European Parliament

business proposals.The services of a top French

and

chef Alian STRIL was acquired to serve the

Development Committee, Nirj Deva, who called

Basmati made French dishes on the occasion. He

on him here at Awan-e-Sadr.

prepared three different French dishes made of Basmati rice while traditional Pakistani rice dishes like Biryani, Zarda and Kheer made by Pakistani cooks were also presented. The guests took keen interest in the exhibition and were impressed by the quality, aroma and taste of rice.Different varieties of Basmati and other rice were also put on display.A signer presented classical and folk songs to entertain the participants. http://nation.com.pk/business/06-Dec2014/newsbrief

Mamnoon hails EUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s role for strengthening democracy in Pakistan December 06, 2014

Vice

democracy

President

and

democratic was

Parliamentary

He said that Pakistan valued its relations with the European Union and wanted to further strengthen it.He said the five-year engagement plan between Pakistan and European Union in 2012 had provided new avenues of cooperation in various fields.He said that Pakistan wanted good

relations

international

with

its

community

neighbours and

had

and

special

importance in its foreign policy with its relations with Afghanistan, India, China and Iran.The president said that Pakistan started a new phase of its relations with Afghanistan and wanted serious, durable and result-oriented talks with India on all issues including Kashmir. The President told Nirj Deva that Pakistan supported the UN Security Council efforts for resolution of the Palestine issue.He said that Pakistan had started military operation Zarb-e-

ISLAMABAD - President Mamnoon Hussain on

Azb for elimination of terrorists in FATA, which

Friday hailed the role of European Union for

was going on successfully, adding that the

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine government

was

taking

all

steps

for

He was happy to note that a new era of Pak-

rehabilitation of the Internally Displaced People

Afghan relations had started.The president said

(IDPs).

since Pakistan and Iran were facing the common challenge of terrorism, the two countries will

The president said the member countries of the European Union were playing important role in investment field and the UK, Germany, Italy and Holland were the greatest source of foreign direct investment (FDI) in Pakistan.He said the trade volume between Pakistan and the EU was $11 billion, which needed further boost. He said the inclusion of Pakistan in GSP plus would be proved significant for managing economic difficulties

and

creating

have to make joint efforts to tackle this menace.President Mamnoon said that ongoing operation against the militants and extremists in tribal areas would soon meet its logical end and ensure peace in the region.He said regional peace would help Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran to work for betterment of the region.President Mamnoon said Pakistan was determined to complete the project of gas pipeline with Iran.

job

opportunities.Meanwhile, President Mamnoon

He stressed cooperation with Iran in different

Hussain while talking to Speaker of Iranian

fields including trade and defence and added that

Parliament Dr Ali Larijani, who called on him

Iran could benefit from the Pakistani defence

here at the Aiwan-e-Sadr said Pakistan wanted

equipment.Speaker of Iranian Parliament Dr Ali

to have good relations with every country of the

Larijani emphasized the need for prudence to

world, but the ties with neighbouring countries

deal

and the Muslim world formed the basis of its

countries.He said that Iran wants to increase

foreign policy.

trade volume with Pakistan and expressed

with

the

problems

the

Muslim

interest in the import of rice from Pakistan. The The President said Pakistan desired peace at borders with all the neighbouring countries and also wanted to resolve all issues with India through

meaningful

and

constructive

Iranian Speaker lauded Pakistanâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s efforts and vigilance to protect its geographical borders and hoped that Pakistan would soon overcome all its issues.

dialogue.He said the resolution of Kashmir dispute in accordance with the UN resolutions

He said any unwanted third party should not be

will not only promote peace in the region but

allowed

also

the

President Mamnoon and the Iranian Speaker

region.Referring to his recent meetings with the

called for opening the branches of their banks on

Afghan

reciprocal basis and added that it would enhance

help

boost

leadership,

development the

President

said

bilateral

interfere

this

relations.Speaker

regard.

particularly his meeting with Afghan President

their

National

Ashraf Ghani remained very productive.

Assembly Ayaz Sadiq and higher officials of the Aiwan-e-Sadr were present.