April 8, 2004

India Set To Supply Soymeal To Pakistan Poultry Industry
 

Indian soybean exporters will attempt to resume supply of soymeal to the Pakistan poultry industry. A 10-member Indian delegation from the Soybean Processors Association of India (SOPA) will travel to Pakistan this Friday to begin negotiations.

Soymeal trade between India and Pakistan, which was in excess of 165,000 metric tonnes in 1998-99, came down to a meagre 9,000 in 2001-02.

The suspension of rail links between the two countries in December 2001 was the major cause of the fall in the trade, said SOPA, which is optimistic the revival of rail links since January will lead to a pick up in trade in the coming months.

The delegation will, therefore, propose a "Samjhauta Vyapar Express" to be started between the two countries for carrying goods on the same lines as the "Samjhauta Express" for carrying passenger traffic.

During the five-day visit, "the delegation will hold meetings with a number of feed millers and end users to know their requirements of soybean meal mainly for poultry feed purposes", D.R. Kalra, executive director of SOPA, said Wednesday in a statement.

The Pakistan Poultry Association is helping SOPA organise meetings with feed millers at Lahore and Karachi.

The aim is to "accelerate the growth of soy-meal trade between India and Pakistan through better understanding of the buyers and end users requirements in Pakistan", said SOPA.

Indian soybean meal with a minimum 46 to 48 percent protein content is better placed compared to supplies from other sources, feels SOPA.

Factors like the close proximity and possibility of small-size supplies to Pakistan are also in favour of Indian exporters, the industry lobby said.

During the visit, SOPA members will strive to solve the problem of rail transportation while preparing "grounds for developing additional mode of transportation by road".