Press Release
Quetta: The Secretary of Agriculture and Cooperative Department Balochistan, Mr. Umaid Ali Khokar, Chaired the second Public-Private Partnership (PPP) platform meeting of The Project for Agri-Food and Agro-Industry Development Assistance (PAFAID) organized by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).
Established under the PAFAID project, the objective of the PPP Platform for the Apple Value Chain (AVC) in Balochistan province is to strengthen the collaboration of public and private sector stakeholders in piloting applications of the compliance capacities and value addition practices. This forum is also supporting the development and validation of required policies, procedures, and strategies related to the AVC in the province.
The Secretary of Agriculture and Cooperative Department of Balochistan, Mr. Umaid Ali Khokar warmly welcomed the meeting participants and he appreciated the efforts made by UNIDO for Public-Private Partnership PPP. Public-Private Platform will encourage effective operationalization & implementation of PPP strategies in the Apple Value Chain, developed by UNIDO in consultation with the Agriculture department. It will guide value addition and compliance investments and support the creation of sub-working groups.
The agriculture department will facilitate the implementation of Apple value chain development & investment strategy & will provide every possible support to the business community in Balochistan. However, it is the responsibility of the private sector to come forward & invest in piloting the Value addition process. Furthermore; He also said that Apple value chain development & investment strategy will be the game-changer for the Farmers & Agriculture department as it will be contributing towards a good economy by adding value of Apple & its product. The Government of Balochistan is always there for facilitation purposes to all investors, farmers and organizations.
A milestone has been achieved through this platform, by the official launching of the Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) Guide developed by the Agriculture department with the support of UNIDO. During this meeting UNIDO shared the progress of PAFAID and the plans for next six months. Mr. Saeed Ahmed Sarparah, CEO Board of Investment (BOI) – Government of Balochistan, shared the details of investment opportunities and facilities being offered to the local investors by BOI. The meeting was attended by representatives from Planning and Development (P&D), women development department, finance department, local government and rural development department, Balochistan Food Authority, officials from agriculture extension directorate, representatives from Chamber of Commerce and Industry Quetta, industry association, farmer association, transporters, cold storage owners, Balochistan Agriculture College, SMEDA and UN agencies.
PAFAID is a four-year Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) funded project which is being implemented by UNIDO in close coordination with the Government of Pakistan, aims at improved pilot applications of the compliance capacities and value addition practices in the cattle meat value chain in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and apple value chain in Balochistan province.
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