Indian exporters delight in the lifting of the Saudi ban

NEW DELHI: The Kerala Fruit and Vegetable Exporters Association expressed its pleasure at the Saudi decision to lift the ban on the import of horticultural products from the southern state of l & # 39; India.

The epidemic of the deadly Nipah virus in parts of Kerala in May of last year has forced the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to ban imports of horticultural products from the United States. State. Most GCC members lifted the ban soon after, with the exception of Saudi Arabia.

The Kingdom "is a major market for Kerala exporters. We ship our products every day to Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah airports, "said P. Ashraf Ali of the badociation.

"I had suffered huge losses because of the ban (Saudi) … Now I hope to recover the loss," Ali told Arab News.

"I'm really happy with the development."

He said he has been able to export 8 to 10 tons of horticultural products to Saudi Arabia since resumption of imports in late May.

Kerala exports between 150 and 160 tonnes of fruit and vegetables every day in the Gulf countries, including about 40 tonnes in Saudi Arabia, said V. Venugopal of the Kerala-based Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Cochin .

"The lifting of the ban is one of the major developments with regard to the fruit and vegetable industries of Kerala," added Venugopal.

The goal this year is to increase exports to the GCC countries to 200 tons per day. If this happens, exports to Saudi Arabia will increase by 15 to 20 percent, he said.

An official of the Authority for Export Development of Agricultural and Processed Products – an organ of the Indian government – told Arab News: "The ban was lifted after the ministries of health of the India and Saudi Arabia were satisfied with the fact that the Nipah virus had been contained This virus was no longer dangerous for humans or plants. "

"I think the Indian Ministry of Health has badured its Saudi counterpart that it would take irreproachable measures to stop the virus. The World Health Organization has also been involved."

"Only when Saudi Arabia has agreed to lift the ban on the Nipah virus will everyone be convinced that the Nipah virus is safe."