ISLAMABAD: Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) Standing Committee on Horticulture & Agri Production, Chairman Ahmad Jawad has stressed on the need of increasing commercial exports of mangoes to the United States, the world biggest and arguably the most lucrative market of mangoes.
Ahmad Jawad stated this while talking to Agriculture Counselor, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Mr. David J Williams who called on him here on Monday.
Jawad said that Pakistani mangoes got approved in 2010 and we were thankful to US government and USDA team that long awaited demand was materialized, but yet appropriate volume couldn’t shipped to the US which is unfortunate.
He explained due to non approval of local irradiation facility despite the fact we have here in Lahore, un- viable packing requirements would be a main hurdle which increased the cost of the shipment.
Chairman Standing Committee of FPCCI on Horticulture and Agri Production requested the USDA to approve our local irradiation units or increase the irradiation plants in the main cities of the US and revisit the packing requirements for Pakistani mangoes, so that volumes may increase. He also floated the idea for the process through Hot Water Treatment plant (HWT) locally for US; as HWT process also approved by the Australian Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery (DAFF) for our mangoes to Australia.
David Williams welcomed the FPCCI proposal and said we would look into it, that what extent we may facilitate the Pakistani exporters.
Vice Chairman FPCCI on Horticulture, Akram Khalid also mentioned that Pakistan have a lot a potential in the sector of fresh and dried dates. He said that we produced more than 250 varieties and Pakistani dates have potential to compete the Israel and Mexican dates which is available in the US market in a good volumes. It’s time that APHIS and USDA also consider it, he added.
Jawad urged it’s high time US and Pakistan bilateral trade must increase, as both governments have excellent relations in security, war and terror which may be converted into economic relations as well; he added.
INP