LAHORE: (APP) There is a vast scope of joint ventures between Pakistan and China in the field of floriculture.
This was stated by Pak-China Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Shah Faisal Afridi while addressing a Chinese delegation from Shandong province on Thursday.
The delegates expressed interest in importing cut flowers from Pakistan due to rapidly increasing demand of floriculture variety in China.
President PCJCCI Shah Faisal Afridi warmly welcomed the delegates and said that the proposed ventures in floriculture industry could be very prolific for Pakistan as the country was blessed with favorable agro climatic conditions, cheap labour and easily available variety of soils, it had potential to develop a resilient floriculture sector, he said.
Faisal Afridi said that in recent years, flower production had increased in Kasur, Sheikhupura, Chunian, Okara, Faisalabad, Sahiwal and Gujranwala.
Over hundred varieties of flowers were being produced in these cities, the most prominent were carnations, jasmine, tulips and roses in dozens of colours, informed Afridi.
He said an investor in the floriculture sector of Pakistan could get maximum profit by making the product value added for supplies to hotels as flower baskets, bouquets and bunches for direct export.
The value added products from non-conventional floricultural crops like essential oil of rose, tube rose, jasmine etc, and plants extracts used in medicines and pharmaceutical industry were unique and had great potentialfor export and import substitution, said Afridi.
There was lack of resources and skilled persons to develop the industry up to international standards, therefore, Chinese stakeholders could be helpful, he added.
He suggested the interested investors to establish training centers and model nurseries in Pakistan with latest planting technologies.
He also said Pakistan direly needed a "cool chain" which would ensure flowers/plants to be kept in suitable environment.
He said the "cool chain system" covering the whole country could save about the 40% production that was wasted due to absence of proper cold storage facilities and improper handling.
Meanwhile, Alex Pan from Kalon daily use products International told that change in lifestyle and better standard of living in China had increased the demand for the floriculture products.
He said this increase in demand of cut flowers was also due to increase in celebrations of different ceremonies in the society like weddings and birthday parties etc.
He informed that currently the major cities Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou and Hongkong were the most important consumption markets.
The prominent members of the delegates were Michael wan from Ruidalong Agricultural science and Technology Company, Yuan Lee from Shandong Shifeng Co Ltd and Peter Mu from Shandong Baishengyuan Group Co Ltd.