PAKISTAN-MALAYSIA TRADE VOLUME TO SEE QUANTUM LEAP

KUALA LUMPUR, April 6 (Bernama) -- Trade volume between Pakistan and Malaysia is expected to see a quantum leap in coming years with growing awareness among the business community on the benefits of the free trade agreement (FTA) signed between the two countries in 2007.

Last year, Pakistan's export to Malaysia rose 24.60 per cent to RM526.12
million (US$1=RM3.2) from RM422.32 million in 2008 while Malaysia's exports to
the country went up 0.2 per cent to RM5.75 billion from RM5.74 billion
previously.

Commercial counsellor for the Pakistan High Commission in Malaysia,
Wajiullah Kundi, said the surge in Pakistani product exports was recorded in the
export of fish valued at RM44.25 million compared with RM36.60 million in 2008,
thereby registering an increase of 20.87 per cent.

Exports of Pakistan rice, however, suffered a setback with total export at
RM88.36 million as against RM110 million in 2008, he said in a statement here
Tuesday.

Kundi said the rice export to Malaysia was likely to increase four-fold in
view of the various orders booked by the Malaysian companies for this year.

-- BERNAMA