AsiaNet-Pakistan Premier Editorial Content and Press Release Distribution Service
Islamabad, July 08, 2013 (PPI-OT): Today, U.S. Ambassador Richard Olson and Commerce Secretary Qasim Niaz joined business owners and stakeholders to celebrate the unprecedented success of Pakistan’s mango sector. The U.S. government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), has helped boost mango production and exports to international markets, leading to a 75 percent increase in farm revenues and the creation of hundreds of new jobs across Pakistan.
“The U.S. government is supporting Pakistan’s mango farmers through infrastructure upgrades, new market opportunities, and access to international certifications,” said Ambassador Richard Olson, at the 2013 Annual Mango Conference and Festival in Islamabad. “This has led to increased mango sales of about $20.5 million, and a five-fold increase in exports of mangoes to international markets,” he added.
“We are thankful to the U.S. government for their support to mango growers and producers that has led to increased productivity and jobs for Pakistani people. A relationship that is based on trade, not just aid, is one that we will look forward to in our relationship with the United States,” said Commerce Secretary Qasim Niaz.
The USAID Firms Project has invested $5.8 million in Pakistan’s mango sector, providing much-needed support for new infrastructure and marketing assistance to help farmers sell their products globally. Small- and medium-sized farms have also invested $1.6 million to work with USAID on developing commercially viable fresh and dried mango businesses.
Since 2009, the U.S. government has invested more than $230 million to fund projects that support the growth of Pakistan’s agriculture sector, including training 31,000 people in Punjab and Sindh in dairy-related operations, vaccinating over 120,000 cattle against Foot and Mouth Disease, and helping 12,000 farmers in Balochistan increase their incomes by 40 percent by boosting production and sales.
For more information, contact:
Alberto Rodriguez
Spokesman
Information Office Public Affairs Section
Embassy of the United States of America
U.S. Embassy, Islamabad- Pakistan
Cell: +92300 501 2640
Tel: +9251-208 0000
Fax: +9251-227 8607
E-mail: webmasterisb@state.gov