The inauguration was attended by Ehsan Ullah Batth - Consul General of Pakistan (Manchester), Muhammad Hamid Ali - Commercial Consul Economic & Trade Division (Northern England, Northern Ireland & Scotland), Afsheen Ul Haq - Trade Development Officer Economic & Trade Division (Northern England, Northern Ireland & Scotland) High Commission of Pakistan, Afzal Khan - Ex-Lord Mayor of Manchester, Councillors of various Constituencies, executives of Asda & International Produce Limited, community leaders and businessmen from both host community and Asian diaspora.

The Consul General of Pakistan, Ehsan Ullah Batth said: “It is an excellent initiative by Asda and the Commercial Section UK North of the Pakistan Government. Mango is a nutritive fruit with various health benefits too. I wish all the best to Asda and hope that more products from Pakistan will be introduced in Asda and other super stores in due course of time”.

The Commercial Consul of Pakistan Muhammad Hamid Ali said: “Mango is known in Pakistan as the "King of Fruits". Pakistan is the 5th largest producer and the 3rd largest exporter of mango in the world. It has got dozens of varieties of mangoes. Its soil and climatic conditions enable production and market supplies of good quality fresh mango over a period of about seven months. Orchards in Pakistan are Global Gap certified and growers/exporters have HACCP and BRC certification as well as per International standards.”

Asda buyer, Dean Hayden, said: “We listen to our customers and the community is at the heart of everything we do, so when we get requests or feedback from them for certain products we will always do our best to meet demand.

“Pakistani mangoes are a fantastic product and by working closely with the Pakistan High Commission, it’s great that we could make this happen.”

The Trade Development Officer of Commercial Section UK North, High Commission of Pakistan, Afsheen Ul Haq said: “We’re delighted that Asda has begun selling Pakistani mangoes at its stores. Pakistani mangoes are appreciated in the international market owing to their attractive colour, fragrance, savouring taste, and nutritive value. Pakistani mangoes, therefore, enjoys a prominent position in the international market with distinct geographical indications of their own. It’s a delicious fruit and we’re really pleased that it will now be more widely available for Asda customers to enjoy.”

The Government of Pakistan’s Commercial Section in Manchester for North UK, Economic and Trade Division (Northern England, Northern Ireland and Scotland) played a vital role towards achievement of this goal. Due to their relentless efforts to promote Pakistani fruits and vegetables in the UK market, International Produce Limited (part of the Walmart group in UK/buyers for Asda Stores) have started to import Pakistani mangoes for Asda stores in UK this year.

We see it as a major international marketing campaign which will give Pakistani horticulture industry a big boost and generate further export opportunities in the agriculture sector specially fruits and vegetables between Pakistan and the United Kingdom.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2011