South Korea has finally allowed import of Pakistani mango while approving the standard/quality of the king of fruits. The first ever shipment of mango to Seoul has been started during the ongoing season, said co-chairman, Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters, Importers and Merchant Association (PFVA) Waheed Ahmed here Monday. “With this land mark achievement, Pakistani mango exporters got the market access of a third highly valued and important country after United States and Japan”, he noted. He said mangoes can be exported to Korea through sea routs and it can become the second important destination for sea shipments after Dubai. The development was made after approval of standard of Pakistani mango by the visiting South Korean experts who recently visited the Hard Water Treatment Facility of Iftikhar Ahmed and Company and Pakistan Horti Fresh Processing and found the treatment facility as per required standard of the foreign country. Waheed noted that the contributions of PFVA, Pakistan Horticulture Export and Development Company and Pakistani Embassy in Seoul for getting the land mark achievement, were very appreciable. During the last three years, Pakistan has successfully obtained the market access of US, Japan, Jordan, Mauritius, and South Korea. Preparation for market access to Australia, another important destination are already under process, he added. Though Seoul also imports mango from Philippine, Thailand, Vietnam and others, the unique taste and quality of Pakistani fruit were enough to compete and get good share in foreign market.
