AFRICA'S NO.1 FOOD, BEVERAGE & MILLING INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

Russia allows import of Pakistani rice after a 2-year ban

Jul 9, 2021Jul 9, 2021 Editor

RUSSIA – Russia has allowed the import of rice from Pakistan, lifting a 2 yearlong ban that had denied Pakistani farmers access to a market that at its peak use to import rice valued at US$40 million Russia banned the import of rice from the country in May 2019 after Khapra beetle was detected in a Pakistani rice consignment. The decision to greenlight Pakistani rice was reached after intense negotiations between representatives from both governments. With the new development, four Pakistani establishments located in Karachi, Lahore, and Chiniot will now be…

Pakistan to import 200,000 tons of wheat from Russia to control inflation

Oct 2, 2020Oct 2, 2020 Editor

PAKISTAN – Pakistan plans to buy about 200,000 tons of wheat from Russia as part of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s bid to control inflation by increasing supplies of essential commodities. Islamabad will soon sign a memorandum of understanding with Moscow for the supply of the grain on a government-to-government basis, Pakistan’s wheat commissioner, Imtiaz Ali Gopang, said. He added that the shipments from Russia are likely to arrive by December after the federal cabinet approves the proposal. Russia’s agricultural agency said the country has already shipped 128,000 tons to Pakistan…

Barentz International forms joint venture with Matco Foods in Pakistan

Feb 8, 2020Feb 8, 2020 Editor

PAKISTAN – Dutch specialty ingredients distributor, Barentz international has formed a joint venture with Pakistan based Matco Foods Limited to better serve the rapidly growing Pakistani food processing market. Backed by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Matco Foods is a leading agribusiness in South Asia, with over 50 years’ experience in the rice industry and a global portfolio of more than 150 corporate customers. The agro processing company exports to over 60 countries around the globe from its 4 rice processing plants and one rice glucose plant situated in Sindh and Punjab, Pakistan. Following…

Nestlé opens new US$22m juice manufacturing plant in Pakistan

Oct 9, 2019Oct 9, 2019 Editor

PAKISTAN – Nestlé has inaugurated a new juice production plant in in Sheikhupura, Pakistan with an investment of US$22 million. The Nestle Fruita Vitals plant has a capacity of 24,000 units per hour and will be producing Nestlé Fruita Vitals portfolio of juices, nectars and drinks. The plant was inaugurated by Punjab Governor Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar who affirmed that the government aims at creating conditions in which foreign companies are attracted towards making new investments. The newly appointed Chief Executive Officer, Nestlé Pakistan, Samer Chedid, said, “Nestlé’s recent investment is…

Pakistan based Maxim Agri to set up US$10m animal feed plant in Kenya

Sep 9, 2019Sep 11, 2019 Editor

KENYA – Maxim Agri International, a Pakistan based company has signed an agreement with the Oserian Development Company to put up an animal feed plant worth Sh1 billion (US$10 million) in Kenya. Maxim Agri International is an Agri-company dealing with feeds, fodder seeds and customized nutrition solution. Oserian is a worldwide renowned flower farm sitting on 3,00 acres of land while its industrial park occupies 750 acres of the farm. The Company will be setting up the feed plant at the Oserian Two Lakes Industrial Park in Nakuru County. The…

Pizza Hut Pakistan operator partners GetSwift for last mile delivery

Jul 18, 2019Jul 18, 2019 Editor

PAKISTAN – MCR Pvt. Ltd., operator of Pizza Hut franchises across Pakistan has selected delivery software provider GetSwift to support its last mile delivery network across the country. Pizza Hut was the first international restaurant franchise to enter Pakistan when it arrived in 1993. Pizza Hut has continued to expand across the country, making it arguably the largest restaurant chain in Pakistan. “Based on the success of GetSwift in other Yum Brands/Pizza Hut markets, GetSwift was a natural choice for us in Pakistan,” said Danyal Rashid, Executive Director of MCR.…

Kenya’s tea sales to Pakistan shrink 37% to US$100m in first quarter

May 10, 2019May 10, 2019 Editor

KENYA – Kenyan tea exports to leading tea buyer, Pakistan, recorded a37 percent decline during the first quarter of the year compared with a similar period last year following low prices witnessed at the auction. According to a market report by the Tea Directorate, volumes exported to Pakistan fell from US$150 million (Sh15bn) in the first three months of last year to US$100 million (Sh10bn) in the period under review. The decline in earnings were attributed to depressed prices in the first quarter, which averaged at US$2.2 (Sh220) per kilo…

Kenyan tea exports to Pakistan hit US$34.79m at 15200 tonnes as top buyer

Mar 18, 2019 Editor

KENYA – Pakistan emerged as the leading buyer of Kenyan tea as the commodity exports to the country surged to 15.2 million kilogrammes, equivalent to 15200 tonnes, which is valued at US$34.79 million (Sh3.5 billion) during the month of January 2019. According to data from the Tea Directorate, the Asian country purchases accounted to 32 percent of the total volume that was exported during the period as it continues to cement its position as the top buyer of Kenyan whose. “Pakistan was the leading export destination for Kenyan tea,” said…

Cargill lines up US$200m investment to grow business in Pakistan

Jan 18, 2019Jan 19, 2019 Editor

ASIA – The global agricultural merchant, Cargill has announced plans to invest more than US$200 million in Pakistan to grow its food and agricultural business in the next three to five years. Planned investment will be carried out across agricultural trading, oilseeds crushing, edible oils, animal feed and dairy industries, which all are critcal in enhancing growth for the family-owned company. The announcement was made in the meeting when Cargill’s global executive team met with the Honorable Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mr. Imran Khan to discuss the company’s future investment…

PepsiCo and Coca-Cola to invest US$1.4b in Pakistan

Nov 30, 2018Nov 30, 2018 Editor

ASIA – The world’s beverage giants are planning to invest in Pakistan with PepsiCo lining up US$1.2 billion in the next five years while Coca-Cola will further invest US$200 million in the coming two to three years, according to a statement from Prime Minister Imran Khan’s office. A report by Arab News reveals that the developments were announced after executives from the two companies met with the Prime Minister. PepsiCo’s delegation was led by Mike Spanos, CEO Pepsi Co Asia, Middle East, and North Africa while that from Coca-Cola company…