Nipah virus an Opportunity For Pakistani Fruits and Vegetables Exporters
Pakistani Fruits and Vegetables Exporters be prepared to take full advantage of ban on Indian fruit/vegetable exports By the Middle East countries due to Nipah Virus.
What is Nipah Virus ?
As per the definition of Wikipedia : Nipah virus infection (NiV) is” a viral infection caused by the Nipah virus. Symptoms from infection vary from none to fever, cough, headache, shortness of breath, and confusion.[1][2] This may worsen into a coma over a day or two.[1] Complications can include inflammation of the brain and seizures following recovery”.
How Nipah Virus presents opportunity to Pakistani Fruits and Vegetable exporters?
Nipah virus unfolds a golden opportunity for Pakistani Fruits and Vegetables exporters . Ban on Indian Fruit and vegetable exports to Middle East could be significant advantage to Pakistan to to fill the gap that will create after this ban.
“The ban on imports of vegetables/fruits from India by Gulf countries could help Pakistan to double its exports to the region, said FPCCI senior vice president” Waheed Ahmed.
Outbreak of the Nipah virus could help Pakistani fruits and vegetables exporters to double their fruit and vegetable exports. This India’s loss can turn to Paksitan’s gain due the ban on imports of fruit and vegetable by Gulf Countries.
Waheed Ahmed, Vice president of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) stated that “Pakistan maintains a presence in the Middle Eastern markets and the ban on Indian exports of vegetables and fruit could enable it to meet the demand and have the capacity to do it, reported Arab News.”
Ahmed also stated that this could enable Pakistan to double its exports to Gulf countries and Pakistani Fruits and vegetables exporters must prepare to fill this gap in the supply owing to ban.
Which country first imposed ban on Indian Fruit and Vegetable imports on account of Nipah Virus ?
Kuwait on May 30th and previously by Bahrain enforced ban on Indian vegetable and fruit imports till further notice. Soon after that other Gulf countries followed the course.
As reported by the Indian media, the virus outbreak has killed 18 people and around 1,945 people are under medical monitoring.
Pakistan has achieved bumper crop this year as shared by the FPCCI vice president with media particularly the crop of potatoes, chillies and onions whose demand it could easily meet. Pakistani Fruits and Vegetables exporters mainly dealing in these crops should speed up the efforts to scale up exports soonest possible.
Indian state of Kerala has been worst hit by this brain damaging virus, which, according to estimates, exports over 150 tons of fruits to Gulf countries on daily basis.
Pakistani fruits and vegetables exporters are already exporting huge quantities to the Middle East and this ban due to Nipah virus on India means those exports could further be boosted which Pakistani fruits and vegetables exporters should plan for.
Asia Foods International . www.asiafoodsintl.com.