The export of Pakistani mango to Sweden has doubled knocking Indian fruit out of the market completely due to its superb quality and taste.
This was stated by a leading Swedish importer of Pakistan origin Abdul Qayyum who visited Karachi this week to finalise export contracts with local exporters for the forthcoming mango season due to begin on May 15.
He said that last year he imported 100 tons mango from Pakistan and remitted dollar 200,000 as export proceeds.
There was great scope for increasing the mango export to not only Sweden but the neighbouring country Finland but the airlines refuse to provide extra cargo space.
The managing director of K-2 Imports said that the export of Pakistani mango to Sweden began about five years ago and he did a real hard work to introduce Pakistani mango to popularise its taste among the Swedes.
"I virtually went street by street and shop by shop to introduce the fruit which by the grace of God has captured hundred percent market and is sold on every big and small outlets.
The K-2 Imports placed advertisements in leading Swedish newspapers to publicise quality Pakistani mango and held parties to offer mango to the guests in order to create a taste for the fruit.
Sindhri variety of mango is the most popular class of the fruit among the Swedes because it has not only good taste but a longer shelf life.
Qayyum said that his next target is to market quality Pakistani rice in the Swedish market, which is presently dominated by Indian rice.
The reason for Indian domination is inferior quality of Pakistani rice supplied in the market.
The Sewedish buyer is not happy with the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) and Pakistan embassy in the country, which never provided any help despite several requests.
They even did not bother to answer letters, phone calls and e-mail messages sent to seek help for getting air cargo space to cope with rush of mango exports at the peak of the season.
The leading Swedish importer regretted that the Pakistani origin businessmen earning millions of dollars for the country were not treated nicely at home especially on airports or a discounted stay in local hotels.