Indian mangoes are all set to be shipped to the American market in the next few days after the US allowing import of the delicious fruit.
NEW DELHI: Indian mangoes are all set to be shipped to the American market in the next few days after the US allowing import of the delicious fruit.
"Indian mangoes are just a few days away from the shipment to the US," US Trade Representative Susan Schwab said on Thursday.
Schwab, who is here for co-chairing the India-US Trade Policy Forum and attending the G-4 and G-6 meetings of the World Trade Organisation said she was 'looking forward' to see Indian mangoes sold in the US market.
Lifting of the ban on export of mangoes to the US was among the major successes of the trade policy forum which was announced 18 months ago by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President George Bush.
"The US has ministerial-chaired forum only with the EU, China and India," US Deputy Trade Representative Karan Bhatia said. Bhatia, who is of Indian origin, said India was among the high priority countries for enhancing the US trade.
"We want to double our trade within three years," Bhatia said. The present bilateral trade would be about $30 billion.
Schwab said, besides mangoes, bilateral almond trade would also be opened because of efforts of the forum.
According to the US-India Business Council Indian mangoes would dominate the 2.50 lakh tonne US market once the export picks up.
"Since the news about the possibility of import of Indian mangoes to the US appeared, we have been getting frequent queries from speciality grocery stores as well as transporters," USIBC spokesperson had said.
For present the Mexican variety of mangoes dominate the US market.
Even as exporters look to the US market, they also see opportunity in the East, particularly in Japan which last year allowed mango imports.
"There is tremendous opportunity for Indian mangoes in Japan," Agricultural and Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) Chairman KS Money said.
Money, who last week returned from Japan, said a mango promotion campaign would be held in the east Asian country between May 23-28 to popularise the fruit there.
"The campaign would focus on big retail chains and super markets besides tapping the Indian stores for sale of mangoes," he said adding Commerce Minister Kamal Nath would be there during the campaign.
About nine tonnes of mangoes were sent to Japan since the ban was lifted last year.
The APEDA Chairman said there would be a huge exports of mangoes to Japan in the coming years.
Currently, six varieties, Alphanso, Benganpalli, Kesar, Chausa, Langda and Mallika, are allowed to the Japanese
market.
India's total exports of fresh mangoes was worth Rs129.19 crore during 2006-07 (April-September) against Rs128.11 crore in 2005-06.
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