Mango exports to US termed unfeasible

Pakistan has been working for a long time to tap into the American market with its high quality mangoes. The conditions and requirements set for Pakistani mango exports to the United States have made it a costly matter, said Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) member and Harvest Trading Chief Executive Officer Ahmad Jawad.

In a statement issued on Saturday, he said that till date mango importers in the US are concerned about the financial feasibility of selling Pakistani mangoes as due to high prices they may not be able to clinch much of a market except for the niche die-hard Pakistani mango fans. He said that the shipping and handling costs amounts to $22 for a two kilogramme carton unless they are given more options for shipping and irradiation destinations to bring down costs and facilitate importers to the US.

“I think we may remove this market from our minds. The US mango lovers who are waiting for Pakistani mangoes for the last many years will face disappointment this year too”. “I don’t know why United States Agency for International Development (USAID) focuses entirely on Europe and the Middle East and not America to help mango growers in arranging shipments?”, he asked.

On the other hand, a New York congressman Tom Reed has questioned the decision of the Obama administration to spend $30 million on mango farmers of Pakistan to help them export the king of fruits to the US terming it “egregious” and “wasteful” government spending; as reported by The Indian Express.

Source: tribune.com.pk