PESHAWAR July 17 (APP): Chairman Regional Standing Committee on Horticulture Export of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) Ahmad Jawad has said the mango exporters failed to capitalize the opportunity despite zero percent duty on Pakistani
mangoes in the recent GSP-status by the US government.
Jawad said “the opening of new markets will only benefit us
if we are ready; being a unique taste and rich aroma, we still
confined our product in the city of Dallas for the last few years which is unfortunate”, said in a statement here Sunday.
“We understand that lengthy procedure hampers the process
in order to increase the mango volumes and export of mangoes could be enhanced manifold by establishing a reliable phyto-sanitary certification and inspection system to meet international standards.”
He said in last summer we had a series of discussions with the US Embassy officials and our Ministry of Commerce to find out the way to approve the local irradiation facility which was established at Lahore to give another option for the exporters in order to minimize the cost.
He said due to some financial constrains that options was not properly pursed and added “even today if commerce ministry sent a formal letter to the United States Department of Agriculture(USDA) officials for the inspection of our local irradiation facility with the name of ‘Paras Foods’ and request the appointment of quarantine inspector too, then I think it works as a alternative option which
helps to increase the mango volume.”
FPCCI Standing Committee Chief further said last year around 184 tons of Pakistani mangoes were exported to the US which is nothing.
He suggested the ‘Trade Development Authority of Pakistan’
may conduct a Pakistani mango festival in different parts of US to encourage the buyers and strengthen the business to business contacts so that buyers may take the benefit from the concessionary tariff and it also helps to give new push in
US Pakistan trade relation.
It may be recalled that mango exports to the US received
approval in 2010 and the first sample shipment sent by Pakistan Horticulture Development Export Company (PHDEC) for the official ceremony was well-acknowledged there in the diplomatic and political circles.
