LAHORE: Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) has compiled recommendations for creation of Citrus Development Board (CDB) to enhance exports of Kinnow (citrus fruit) from Pakistan.
SMEDA Chief Executive Officer Muhammad Alamgir Chaudhry told media here that Prime Minister had formed a high-level Committee on development of Citrus sector with SMEDA as a member.
He said, the committee, during its last meeting held in Ministry of National Food Security, had tasked the SMEDA to interact with stakeholders of Citrus sector to formulate viable recommendations for establishment of the proposed Citrus Development Board. Consequently, he added, a meeting with stakeholders of citrus sector was held at Zahid Kinnow factory, Bhalwal, which was attended by representatives of growers, exporters, processors, research institutes and the related government departments.
Alamgir Chaudhry said that stakeholders were grateful to the Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif for taking interest in development of Citrus sector, and were confident that creation of Citrus Development Board would help overcome the barriers hindering increase in exports of Pakistani Kinnow from Pakistan.
The CEO said that Pakistan was exporting Kinnow worth USD 192 million every year, which was 1.5 percent of the total Citrus trade in the world. He said that a target of capturing five percent share from the total world Citrus Trade for Pakistan had been set for next five year, which would raise exports of Pakistani Kinnow from USD 192 million to USD 600 million per anum.
The CEO said that SMEDA had completed its recommendations for development of Citrus sector, which would be taken up with the Committee in its next meeting. He said that recommendations included various initiatives for capacity building, marketing, financing and international certification of Citrus sector besides production of seedless Kinnow and creation of the Citrus Development Board for implementation of the development proposals.
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