Metting of Date Exporters & Traders with Secretary TDAP

On the directives of Honorable Secretary TDAP, TDAP Sukkur office with the collaboration of District Government Khairpur arranged a meeting of date exporters and traders with Secretary TDAP at Darbar Hall, Deputy Commissioner Khairpur office. The meeting was attended by date exporters and traders from Sukkur Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Khairpur Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Agha Qadirdad.

The exporters of Sukkur region requested Secretary TDAP for the establishment of date processing plant and a research institute facility.They also apprised that the exporters of Sukkur region cannot compete at International level and therefore the participation of date exporters in international exhibitions and delegations of TDAP at a relaxed merit policy is imperative in order to fully tap the potential of their region.

The exporters also requested Secretary TDAP to support the import of new varieties of dates that may be cultivated in the Sukkur region. They informed that only one exportable variety (named as ‘Assel’) is grown in their region which is only consumed in syrups and paste manufacturing. In international markets, ‘Assel’ due to its short shelf-life is not acceptable as a table fruit which ultimately affects the date exports. Dates’ share in foreign exchange can be increased by exporting date as a table fruit. They also demanded a processing plant including cold storage facility with complete supply chain. ***