Interview with Mr. Abdul Rahim Janoo — a leading businessman
[box type=”shadow” align=”” class=”” width=””]Profile:
Occupation: Export and import
Nature Of Export: Rice, grain, agrobased products, business spices/sugar/wheat & by products. Import: milk powder/tea/rubber/spices. Land lords: property owners and giving properties on rent. Petrol pumps: owner and operator of petrol pumps.
President: Memon Leadership Forum (MLF)
Convener: Memon Leadership Conference (MLC)
Chairman: –South Zone Group (REAP)
- Haji Razak Janoo Memorial Trust, Karachi.
- Pakistan Economic Forum.
- Masjid Al-Razak, S.I.T.E / Masjid Al-Hamida, Super Highway/Jama Masid Haider-E-Karrar (Clifton) / Jama Masjid Mustafa (Nooriabad)/Jama Masjid Umer (Manzoor colony)
Ex-Chairman: –Rice Exporters Association Of Pakistan (REAP) From 2001-2003 and 2008-2009.
- FPCCI export trophy awards and achievement award 2015 which organised two export trophy in which pm pakistan and one achievement award in which president of pakistan were chief guest, these three functions also increased revenue for FPCCI.
- Accounts FPCCI 2015 which curtailed un-necessary expenses and made FPCCI financially strong.
- Fair and exhibition committee FPCCI 2015/2016 achieved record revenue for FPCCI which was instrumental in starting finishing work of capital office building Islamabad and completion.
Ex-Senior Vice President: Federation Of Pakistan Chambers Of Commerce & Industry
Ex. Vice Chairman: Pakistan Rice Board, Govt Of Pakistan.
Ex- President: Dhoraji Cooperative Housing Society.
Member Managing: Chamber Of Commerce & Industry, Karachi (1999-2002)
Leader Of Delegation: Dubai, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Sri Lanka, U.K, U.S.A, South
Africa, India, Kuwait, Qatar, Yemen.
Member: Federal Export Board, Govt Of Pakistan
Member: Karachi Club/Muslim Gymkhana Committee
Founder Chairman: Pakistan Sri Lanka Business Council (1991- 95). Pakistan Milk Powder Importer’s Association (2006-2008)
Chief Organizer: Baba Farid free eye camp (largest & most modern free eye charity trust in pakistan) also done free eye camps in Azad Kashmir, Afghanistan & Bangladesh. Till November2020 have organised 292free laser surgery eye camps in Pakistan and abroad.
Achievements: Presented gold medal by h.e. Dr. Arif Alvi, President of Pakistan on 19/01/2020 for successfully organizing 3days first memon leadership conference from 17 to 19 January 2020 in Karachi with worldwide representation.
- Got Gold Medal From Prime Minister Of Pakistan As Best Chairman Of Any Association In 2003.
- Got Gold Medal From Prime Minister Of Pakistan In 2006 For Increasing Rice Exports More Than 550%.
- Got gold medal from federal health minister govt. of Bangladesh in 2007 for eye charity services in Dhaka, Chittagong and Mymensingh Bangladesh
- Got Gold Medal From Prime Minister Of Pakistan For Good Value Export From Pakistan On 28/12/2015.
- Got Gold Medal From President Of Pakistan For Bonding Reap As Leader & Organizing 10 Successful Export Awards – 28/12/2018.
- Got gold medal, govt of Sweden on agriculture paper.
- Got highest number of votes in Karachi chamber elections 2000-2001 and got highest number of votes in federation chamber of commerce election 2015.
- Given Award Of Maseeha By Janab Mohammad Mian Soomro, Acting President Of Pakistan At Pak Pattan.
Appreciation shield in International rice conference Singapore 2009.
- Three roads are named, two in Karachi and one in Pakpattan.
- Led Delegations To 14 Countries And Also Has Been Member Of Prime Minister And President Of Pakistan Various Delegations.
- Due to untiring efforts of reap members, we have done so much for rice trade specially for enhancing rice export trade which was only us$300 million when i took over as chairman in 2001 and made it possible to increase upto more than US$2.2 billion in my 2nd tenure in 2008-09. We also started reap’s trade delegation to many countries of the world and hold biryani festival which were very instrumental for the benefit of rice trade.
- Mr. Abdul Rahim Janoo successfully organized first memon leadership conference (MLC) during 17thto 19th January 2020 attended by elite business community of Pakistan as well as more than100 delegates & memon leaders from 18 countries of the world. Governor Punjab, Governor Sindh & various Federal Ministers were chief guest of various sessions of MLC. H.E. Dr. Arif Alvi, president of Pakistan was the chief guest in concluding session of MLC on 19th Jan 2020.[/box]
PAGE: Could you give your views about the current state of rice exports?
Abdul Rahim Janoo: Rice export trade is the 2nd largest export trade of Pakistan with more than US$ 2.5 billion. Keeping in view the recent outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, almost every sector of the country is badly affected and has resulted disruption around the globe. A significant slowdown has been observed in the production of agriculture and food sectors. Further logistics challenges and transportation challenges were also there. Alhamdulillah, with the business friendly policies of Pakistan, support of relevant Ministries and Departments of Pakistan and untiring efforts of REAP members, rice export sector of Pakistan has managed to achieve its annual target of US$ 2 billion annually.
PAGE: What is your take on the competition in the export market and quality of Pakistani rice?
Abdul Rahim Janoo: It is the mercy of Almighty Allah that Pakistan is blessed with the best quality agricultural/food and other commodities, such as Pakistani rice is the best quality rice in the world. Pakistani Basmati and Non-Basmati rice are very much liked by the people of rice buying countries. The major buyers of Pakistani Non-Basmati rice are Kenya and China. Although Pakistani Basmati rice is facing tough competition in international markets and it was on decline last few years, however, with the consistent efforts of Pakistani rice exporters, it is again performing significant growth. Pakistani companies have a strong marketing network spread all across the country and worldwide. With well equipped, modern and state of the art infrastructure, they have the necessary expertise and backbone to meet any scale of demand for any sector. They have vast experience in procurement, storage, processing and supply of the agricultural commodities ensuring that their clients shall get premium grade products.
PAGE: Could you tell me about the support from the government?
Abdul Rahim Janoo: In other rice exporting countries, this trade is under government control. However, in our country rice export sector is free from any government intervention. This is the main reason for the growth of this sector from $300 million to $ 2billion. This is the only sector which never get any financial support/subsidy from government. However, Government of Pakistan and its concerned ministries, such as Ministry of Commerce and other relevant government departments have always extended their moral support to cope with challenges being faced by this sector, which is the 2nd largest earner of valuable foreign exchange for our beloved country.
PAGE: Kindly tell us about the problems being faced by the rice exporters:
Abdul Rahim Janoo: Rice export sector is also facing many challenges locally and globally as well. However, few important issues and problems of this sector are given below:
- Geographical indication (GI) of Basmati rice which is the heritage of Pakistan.
- Rice export sector should be given Industry status.
- Need of improvement of milling facilities.
- Need of upgradation of port facilities.
- Upgradation of Department of Plant protection (DPP).
- Inconsistent availability of electricity, gas to rice processing units.
- Lack of Research & Development work for new rice seeds.
- Banking and Taxation related problems.
- Problems due to shipping companies exorbitant charges.
- Duties/Taxes on import of all type of Rice Machinery.
- Lack of payment mechanism for rice exports to Iran, which is one of the largest buyer of Basmati rice.
- Market access with Free Trade Agreements with important rice buying countries.
- Recent decline of rice exports to African countries.