KARACHI: In an effort to expand its global presence and enhance exports of edible goods, Pakistani food giant National Foods opened its first abroad manufacturing facility in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (UAE), according to a story published by Arab News on Wednesday.
The News claims that the company’s main business is producing and selling a variety of food items, such as pickles, ketchup, and sweets.
The company’s main international geographic market for its products is still the United Arab Emirates.
“The company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, National Foods DMCC, based in Dubai, has established a further subsidiary, namely National Foods (FZE), in Sharjah, UAE, as part of the strategy on international business,” the firm stated in a stock filing.
The Dubai-based subsidiary, National Foods DMCC, was established in 2012 with the Middle East market in mind and has contributed to the company’s global expansion, according to Abrar Hasan, CEO of National Foods.
He said that the company has filed for and been given a production license in the United Arab Emirates.
“In order to gain better access to the market, especially the Middle Eastern markets, we will now begin production. “This will be the first manufacturing facility overseas,” Hasan said to Arab News, noting that the establishment will aid in product localization as well.
He said that the business was already present in Canada, the UK, and the US and that it intended to grow outside of the Gulf region.
According to a financial statement of the company posted on the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), export sales increased by Rs638 million during the first three months of the current fiscal year, while the company’s export sales increased from Rs2.2 billion to over Rs2.4 billion during the previous fiscal year, primarily to the UAE.
According to Hasan, exports make up over 20% of National Food’s overall revenue. The financial statement indicates that local sales in the fiscal year 2023 were approximately Rs40 billion, up from Rs36.6 billion the year before.
Pakistani analysts in the United Arab Emirates stated that the expanding Pakistani diaspora was the primary reason behind the surge in demand for Pakistani goods.
