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India welcomes Pakistan move to allow Indian sugar imports
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-08-01 16:15
India welcomed on Monday a move by Pakistan to lift a ban on sugar imports
from India in an attempt to check high domestic prices, reported Reuters.
Pakistan banned imports from India in 2001 after its domestic industry said
cheap Indian sugar was hurting cane growers and processors.
"Any trade between India and Pakistan is welcome," Indian Commerce Secretary
S.N. Menon told Reuters. "We encourage trade from both sides."
Earlier on Monday, a senior Pakistani official told Reuters in Karachi the
government had decided to allow sugar imports from India, and a formal
announcement was expected soon.
Pakistan, which last month bought 100,000 tonnes of white sugar from United
Arab Emirates firm Al Khaleej, is expected to issue another tender for the
import of 50,000 tonnes of refined sugar soon, officials said.
Last week officials had said they would not allow international suppliers to
offer Indian sugar in the upcoming tender. Some suppliers tried offering Indian
sugar in the last tender, that opened on July 28, but it was rejected.
The need to check domestic prices led to the change, officials said.
"It is for the Indian trade to do it now, we have no difficulties in this
regard," Menon said.
Indian sugar industry officials said they would be able to supply sugar to
Pakistan at competitive rates and in the shortest possible time.
"Our relations with Pakistan are improving and this will be one more feather
in the cap," said Vinay Kumar, managing director of the National Federation of
Cooperative Sugar Factories Ltd.
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