Need juice, mate?

Australian High Commissioner Tim George has said that Australian is planning major investment into the citrus sector in the Pakistan, including construction of a juice extraction plant.
Addressing a news conference, the Australian envoy said that a delegation led by the senior trade commissioner in South Asia called the Punjab chief minister to brief him on the project, which is collaboration between Pakistani citrus growers, Australian citrus and juicing company expertise and Middle East investment.
Senior Trade Commissioner for Australia in South Asia Peter Linford and Honourary Counsel of Australia for the province of Punjab Salim Ghauri were also present on the occasion.
He said Australia was already active on the front of education and training for Pakistani youngsters with increasing focus and delivery of in-market training to develop work ready graduates. He said these graduates are playing important role in sectors including agribusiness, tourism and hospitality, health and medical, infrastructure and importantly mining and energy sectors.
According to him, Australia is also keen to bring its expertise into the development of Pakistan’s abundant natural resources. He said he Australians companies have also shown interest to explore and potentially develop shale gas resources. In Agribusiness, he said, Australia is much focused on dairy development and presenting best-in-class supply to Pakistan milk producers and value add companies in Pakistan.
Speaking on the occasion, the Senior Trade Commissioner for Australia in South Asia Peter Linford said the citrus growing region of Pakistan produces a fruit crop of 2 million tones, four times that of Australia. However, he said the sector suffers losses up to 40 percent in wastage through handling, storage and cool change management, as well as lack of value-added manufacturing options and alternatives.
He said Australia is in an ideal position to support the Pakistan citrus industry through its citrus expertise, particularly offering improve crop processing facilities that will deliver increased fresh juice supply to Pakistan, and additionally create and develop export markets, especially to the nearby Gulf region.
The Australian Honourary Counsel for the province of Punjab Salim Ghauri said a good number of Pakistani-Australians, including himself, have returned in recent and invested heavily to create thousands of jobs for Pakistani graduates. He said Australia has been friendly towards Pakistan and is keenly interested in developing trade relations ahead. He also appreciated the Chief Minister Punjab for its support to the Australian plans in the province.