The Pakistan Horticulture Development & Export Company and M/s Durrani Associates Karachi organized a mango promotion in Iran, IR in collaboration with the Embassy of Pakistan, Tehran on 7th June 2010. In this regard, the Reporting Officer traveled from Lahore to Karachi on 5th June 2010 (AN). From Karachi onward he traveled to Tehran along with Syed Jamal Ali Hasnie, General Manager, PHDEC; Babar Khan Durrani, Director, Durrani Associates; and Arshad Baloch, mango grower. The delegation reached Tehran on Sunday, the 6th June 2010 (Noon). On arrival, held meeting with Dr. Muhammad Saeed Jadoon, Commercial Counsellor, Pakistan Embassy, and discussed arrangements for the mango promotion.

The seminar was attended by 45 persons from different stakeholders including Government Officials from the Ministry of Agriculture Iran, Customs Department, Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Mines, Association of Fruits and Vegetables Wholesalers (Importers) and Unifrutti, a multinational fresh produce marketing company. Dr. Muhammad Saeed Khan Jadoon, Commercial Counsellor, Embassy of Pakistan welcomed the participants and briefed about the objectives of the event. He said that purpose of the mango promotion combined with exhibits and seminar was to educate Iranian importers/consumers and other stakeholders more about Pakistani mango, its post-harvest treatment, reefer haulage and address their queries if any. Mr. Muhammad Iqbal, Chief Operating Officer, Pakistan Horticulture Development & Export Company said that Pakistan and Iran, being two neighboring Muslim countries shared many common values. Their strategic geographical location provided enormous scope for bilateral trade and the trade in the Region including supplying to Turkey, Europe and Central Asian Republics. He added that Pakistan-Iran trade in horticulture with specific reference export of mangoes and mandarin from Pakistan is gradually picking up and Pakistan sees Iran as an emerging one of the largest markets. He said that mango in Pakistan is known as king of fruits and should be the same in Iran once they have tasted it. Mr. Muhammad Shafi, Advisor to Agriculture Ministry Iran emphasized on common market of Muslim countries, leading role in Halal Food and enlarging trade among Iran, Pakistan and Turkey. Mr. Muhammad Hussain Enayatbagh, Director General, Iran Customs observed that illegal trade by road in contravention of protocol signed between the two countries was destroying the market and if allowed to continue Pakistan may lose Iran market. He stressed that there was need for more close working relationships between the Custom Departments of the two countries. Mr. Noorani, President, Fruit and Vegetables Importers Association, raised issues with respect to inconsistent quality, illegal trade via land route under smuggling or on fake documents created unhealthy competition and inflated the risk whereby importers were losing and may discontinue importing mango and mandarin from Pakistan. As a result, Pakistan may lose this market. Some of the participants also expressed apprehensions about the affect of hot water treatment on quality and keeping quality of mangoes. They were of the view that mango can not withstand hot water treatment and hence exporters were using fake certificate of hot water treatment. Mr. Babar Khan Durrani, Director, M/s Durrani Associates, elaborated on the requirements of protocol signed between Pakistan and Iran about mangoes and his processing facility which is the only state-of-the-art in Pakistan and approved by other countries as well like China, Jordan, UK etc. He said that he was supplying Iran market with processed and best quality mangoes which has been appreciated by his customers including Unifrutti. He said that he wanted to explore more business with Iran.