Pakistan, as one of the countries with high agricultural and fisheries capacities, is seeking to develop trade cooperation with Iran. The agricultural sector of this country accounts for 23.4 percent of the gross domestic product and 33.1 percent of employment, and the need for importing essential goods and production inputs has created suitable opportunities for these collaborations.
Business Opportunities in the Fisheries Sector
Tara Zarei, an expert from the Iranian Fisheries Organization, pointed to the capacities of Pakistan's fisheries industry and stated that despite the country's extensive coastline, the development of processing and exporting high value-added fishery products is a priority for this sector. Processing, sorting, and packaging of fishery products is one of the possible areas of cooperation between Iran and Pakistan. Iranian processing units that have valid health codes can collaborate with Pakistani companies to process and repackage shrimp and marine fish.
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Meeting Pakistan's Agricultural Needs
Zarei also mentioned Pakistan's need for aquaculture feed, biological supplements, probiotics, and aquaculture equipment, adding that with the development of intensive aquaculture in Pakistan, the demand for these products has increased, and Iranian companies can collaborate in the production and supply of cage farming equipment and aerators. These conditions could help strengthen trade relations between the two countries.
Pakistan is heavily dependent on the import of edible oil and imports a significant volume of oil and oilseeds annually. Plans are underway to increase domestic production and reduce dependence on imports. Therefore, the export of crude and refined vegetable oils, sunflower oil, and canola oil are among the capacities that Iranian economic actors can explore.
Additionally, the transfer of technical knowledge and improved seeds can also assist in the agricultural cooperation between the two countries. Iranian knowledge-based companies can participate in providing improved seeds suitable for Pakistan's climatic conditions.
Considering Pakistan's need for various agricultural fertilizers, Iran's petrochemical industries can play a role in supplying urea and other nitrogenous, phosphatic, and potassic fertilizers for this country. Zarei pointed out that geographical proximity and the possibility of using land and rail routes could be effective in developing exchanges.
Development of Cooperation in Livestock and Poultry
Zarei also referred to the capacities of Pakistan's livestock and poultry sectors, stating that this country has a significant population of large livestock and a wide-ranging poultry industry. Plans are underway to standardize slaughterhouses and develop halal meat exports. If sanitary and quarantine requirements are met, targeted imports of meat and carcasses from modern slaughterhouses in Pakistan could be one of the areas of trade cooperation between the two countries.
This expert also emphasized the importance of the agricultural machinery sector, stating that the shortage of modern tractors and precision agricultural equipment has created a suitable opportunity for Iranian companies to enter the Pakistani market. The export of modern irrigation equipment is also another area with potential, given the current water stress in the Indus River basin.
Given the existing needs and capacities of both countries, cooperation in various fields can help develop trade and economic exchanges between Iran and Pakistan. Zarei also emphasized the necessity of developing health and quarantine agreements between the two countries, stating that accelerating the drafting of joint protocols in this area could facilitate the trade of agricultural, livestock, and fishery products.
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