Pakistan Horticulture Development and Export Company (PHDEC) has achieved another milestone, in its endeavours to promote exports of mangoes, by developing and opening South Korean market for Pakistani mangoes. Initially a consignment of 2.5 tons was sent to South Korea in early July and it fetched further orders of 22 tons.
‘PHDEC worked closely with DPP-Pakistan for opening up of South Korean market for Pakistani mangoes. The company arranged a visit of South Korean Quarantine experts to Pakistan and facilitated meetings with allied institutions for this visit,’ said PHDEC Chief Executive Officer Bashir Hussein while addressing a press conference on Tuesday.
South Korean experts visited mango orchards, irradiation facility by PARAS foods at Lahore and Hot Water Treatment (HWT) facility (Pakistan Hortifresh Private Limited-A joint venture of PHDEC and Durrani Associates).
Throwing light on other efforts of the PHDEC, Bashir said this year the Company had finalised paperwork for mango export to Australia, which was open in principal and PHDEC interventions would make it possible for Pakistani growers, processors and exporters to export mangoes to Australia. In this context an Australian delegation comprising of Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) Biosecurity experts visited Pakistan from May 28 to June 4, 2012, he added.
He further said that a shipment through sea touched Netherland this month and initial report show that sea shipments are going to be next best option for mangoes to Europe which would not only decrease the cost but also provide a chance to export mangoes in bulk.
Sea shipment was dispatched in CA containers and it took 26 days to reach Netherlands. The reports are showing 100 per cent positive results as mangoes were in excellent shape and no trace of withering was found. He said that PHDEC promotional activities and other interventions have shown positive results and Netherlands imported 537 tons Pakistani mangoes during 2011-12, which is three times increase from 2010-11 of 184 tons.
To various questions, Bashir proudly claimed that mangoes export was showing a gradual and steady growth as during the year 2009 season Pakistani exported 75,000 tons, 85,000 tons in 2010 and 92,000 tons in year 2011. He hoped that this season mango exports would remain slightly over 100,000 tons.
