'India can dominate US mango market'

Indian mangoes are all set to be shipped to the American market in the next few days with the US allowing import of the delicious fruit.

"Indian mangoes are just a few days away from shipment to the US," US Trade Representative Susan Schwab said today. Schwab, who is here to co-chair the India-US Trade Policy Forum and attend the G-4 and G-6 meetings of the World Trade Organisation said she was looking forward to seeing Indian mangoes being sold in the US market.

The 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 the country was among the high priority nations 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 the efforts of the forum.

According to the US-India Business Council, Indian mangoes would dominate the 2.50-lakh tonne US market once the exports pick 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 said.

At 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 K S 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 tonne 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 "" Alphonso, Benganpalli, Kesar, Chausa, Langda and Mallika "" are allowed in the Japanese market.

India's total export of fresh mangoes was Rs 129.19 crore during 2006-07 (April-September) against Rs 128.11 crore in 2005-06.