“Mango Production, Export Process and The Role of Relevant Government Entities: Focus on Export to USA” on December 15, 2020

Karachi, December 15, 2020 (PPI-OT): Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) in collaboration with Pakistan Consulate in Houston, USA, has organized a Webinar titled “Mango Production, Export Process and The Role of Relevant Government Entities: Focus on Export to USA” on December 15, 2020. The following were the main speakers at the Webinar:-

Mr. Abrar Hussain Hashmi, Consul General of Pakistan in Houston USA

Ms. Shaista Bunyad, Trade and Investment Attaché of Pakistan in Houston USA

Dr. Abdul Ghaffar Grewal, Principal Scientist, Mango Research Institute

Mr. Allah Ditta Abid, Plant Protection Advisor and Director General, Department of Plant Protection

Mr. Malik Ghazanfar Sadiq, General Manager, Al-Technique Corporation of Pakistan. Mr Attiq Ahmed Chaudhry, Managing Director ATCOP, was also in attendance.

Mr Abdul Kareem Memon, Director General, Agro-Food Division TDAP, while formally inaugurating the session told the participants that Pakistan is the 4th largest exporter of the Fresh Mango in the world. He underscored the need for market diversification and value addition to augment year on year growth in Fresh Mango export, and highlighted TDAP’s resolve to play its due role in this regard. Mr Abrar Hussain Hashmi explained the unique status of Houston for mango import from Pakistan due to location of two irradiation facilities nearby. He touched upon the peculiarities of the US market for mangoes, and highlighted the potential presented by the diaspora market as well as product diversification into mango derivatives and by-products.

Dr. Abdul Ghaffar Grewal spoke in detail about the methodologies and management practices by which premium export-quality Mango can be produced at the orchard level. Mr. Allah Ditta Abid spoke at length about DPP’s role in holistic SPS compliance across the entire supply chain of Mango Export. He shed light on the stringent import requirements in the USA despite open market access.

Irradiation treatment must be done of every shipment in the USA, as irradiation facilities in Pakistan are not approved by USDA-APHIS. He informed the audience about DPP’s efforts to have Pakistani E-Beam facilities registered with USDA-APHIS. Malik Ghazanfar Sadiq dilated upon the irradiation and E-Beam facilities offered to the exporters of Fruits and Vegetables by Al-Technique Corporation of Pakistan. He said that strenuous efforts were required to ensure that Pakistani irradiation facilities get USDA-APHIS approval.

Ms Shaista Bunyad stated that the US market for all Mango categories is approximately $840 million. The US market for Mango derivatives and by-products is very large in which Pakistan is not competitive so far. She explained the US Import Regime for Mangoes vis-à-vis Pakistan in great length. She added that Mango irradiated in Pakistan is the best-case scenario in terms of profitability and cost-effectiveness in the US market. She briefly touched upon the Consulate’s Mango promotion plans in 2021. She also invited Pakistan-origin Mango Importers in the USA to address the Webinar. Mr. Wahid Lala of Famous Foods USA opined that Pakistan needs to focus on Mango Pulp, dried Mango and other by-products as there is great demand in the US market.

In Fresh Mango, irradiation in the US adds a cost and time overhead that makes trade difficult. Mr. Zulfiqar Momin of GTS Global USA spoke about issues pertaining to ports/points of entry, quality, freight and capacity constraints, and treatment and transportations costs of Mango import from Pakistan. He added that new prospective Irradiation plant in New Jersey is likely to reduce cost overhead in 2021 and increase volume. However, prices as high as $30 per box and the distance involved present challenges that remain to be overcome.

At the end of the session, Q and A session was held and the webinar concluded with a note of thanks.

For more information, contact:
Director
Information and Communication Division
Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP)
3rd Floor, Block A, Finance and Trade Centre,
P.O. Box No. 1293, Shahrah-e-Faisal,
Karachi 75200, Pakistan
UAN: +92-21-111-444-111
Tel: +92-21-99206487-90, +92-21-99201526
Fax: +92-21-99206461, +92-21-99201526
Email: tdap@tdap.gov.pk, farooque.memon@tdap.gov.pk
Website: www.tdap.gov.pk

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