STAFF REPORT IBD: Pakistan is missing Japan’s huge market for mangoes in the absence of Vapor Heat Treatment (VHT) facilities to meet the sanitary and phyto-sanitary conditions which are a pre-requisite for mango exports to that country. Pakistan could easily export mangoes worth $4-5 million annually if VHT plants are installed to meet the laid down requirements, experts said.
The Japanese government has already approved the quality of Pakistani mangoes which are superior in taste and have the potential of giving a tough competition to Indian mangoes which are already there in that market.
According to horticulture exporters, Pakistan immediately needs at least two huge VHT plants of a minimum capacity of 50 tons each – one at Karachi and the other at Lahore. Although it is the responsibility of the Pakistan Horticulture Development and Export Company (PHDEC) to provide these facilities to enhance exports, but instead, Pakistan Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) is taking more interest in having VHT plants installed as soon as possible.
“This year, the government may import VHT plants from Japan to start commercial shipments of mango from 2013,” said Director Business Development, Harvest Trading, Ali Akhlaq Mughal.
He said that Japan has remained one of the major bilateral development partners of Pakistan since 1954, extending assistance in multifaceted sectors of development.
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