Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) Regional Standing Committee on Horticulture Exports Chairman Ahmad Jawad has said that despite giving zero per cent duty on Pakistani mangoes due to the recent GSP status by the US government, the country’s mango exporters have failed to capitalise on the opportunity that the largest importer of mangoes presents to them.
Jawad said that while the United States is one of the largest importers of mangoes in the world, the Pakistani exporters are still confining their produce in the city of Dallas which is unfortunate.
“We understand that lengthy procedure hampers the process of increasing mango volumes, but the TDAP is not even encouraging the Pakistani exporters towards this market,” Jawad said, and added, “The export of mangoes could be enhanced manifold by establishing a reliable phyto-sanitary certification and inspection system to meet international standards.”
He said that last summer they had a series of discussions with the US Embassy and Ministry of Commerce officials to find out a way to approve a local irradiation facility which was established in Lahore to give another option to the exporters to minimise the cost.
But due to some financial constrains that option was not properly pursed by the Commerce Ministry. He said that even today if the Ministry sends a formal letter to the USDA officials through the embassy for the inspection of our local irradiation facility, “Paras Foods”, and requests the appointment of a quarantine inspector too, it will work as an alternative option which will help increase the mango volume, Jawad added.
The FPCCI Standing Committee said that last year, around 184 tonnes of Pakistani mangoes were exported to the US which is nothing.
“We still have a lot of room if we lay down a proper strategy with the existing procedures and approvals of the Unite States Department of Agriculture.”