Tanveer Invites Portuguese Investment in Pakistan’s Olive Sector

Lisbon: Minister for National Food Security Rana Tanveer Hussain has invited Portuguese investors and companies to explore joint ventures and public-private partnerships in Pakistan’s olive sector. He extended this invitation during a meeting with Portuguese Minister for Agriculture and the Sea, Jose Manuel Fernandes, in Lisbon.

According to Radio Pakistan, Minister Hussain highlighted the immense investment potential within Pakistan’s olive industry, which encompasses cultivation, processing, packaging, and the production of value-added products. He noted that over seven million olive trees have been planted across more than fifty-five thousand acres in Pakistan. The minister also reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the International Olive Council, following its recent accession as a permanent member, and expressed a determination to align national standards with international benchmarks to enhance the global competitiveness of Pakistani olive products.

Rana Tanveer Hussain further emphasized the investor-friendly environment in Pakistan, offering incentives such as one hundred percent foreign ownership, long-term land leases, duty-free import of agricultural machinery, tax incentives, and one-window facilitation for investors. Discussions between the two ministers also covered the expansion of cooperation in agricultural research, mechanized harvesting, olive oil extraction technology, quality certification, value addition, and capacity building through institutional linkages between research organizations in both countries.

Additionally, both sides exchanged views on promoting climate-smart agriculture, efficient water management, drip irrigation technologies, and sustainable land management practices. The Portuguese Minister, Jose Manuel Fernandes, commended Pakistan’s achievements in developing its olive sector and expressed interest in expanding collaboration for the mutual benefit of both countries.