Ambassador urges TDAP to focus on halal food, women empowerment initiatives

KARACHI: Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States Rizwan Saeed Sheikh has urged the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) to prioritise the Halal food sector, citing its growing demand in the US market.

During a meeting with TDAP Chief Executive Zubair Motiwala, Ambassador Sheikh stressed the need for a strategic focus on sectors with high export potential. The meeting was also attended by Muhammad Hanif Channa, Pakistan’s minister of trade in Washington.

Ambassador Sheikh lauded TDAP’s proactive efforts towards women’s economic empowerment, particularly the initiatives undertaken by the Women Entrepreneur Division. He proposed engaging US institutions to conduct capacity-building training and workshops for women entrepreneurs in Pakistan.

To foster collaboration between IT startups and investors from countries like Saudi Arabia and the US, the ambassador announced plans to organise IT-focused events in Pakistan. He highlighted the success of a recent event held in Silicon Valley in partnership with Stanford University as a model for such initiatives.

TDAP Secretary Sheryar Taj briefed the meeting participants on various digital tools available on TDAP’s website, designed to support exporters and importers. He also extended an invitation to the ambassador to attend the upcoming mega FoodAg Manufacturing event in Lahore, scheduled for February 2025. Sheikh assured TDAP of US company participation in the event, while TDAP pledged hospitality for visiting American businesses.

Minister of Trade Muhammad Hanif Channa updated the meeting on recent developments, including the visit of US inspectors to Pakistan for assessing compliance related to mango, dates, and shrimp exports. He urged TDAP to lead efforts in expediting the preparation of dossiers and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.

The ambassador and the minister of trade committed to strengthening business-to-business connections and boosting Pakistani exports to the US through close collaboration with TDAP.