Bangladesh is set to export mangoes to China for the first time, with the inaugural consignment to be dispatched this week, a government official says.

The first shipment to the new export market will be undertaken on Wednesday, Bangladesh's agriculture secretary, Mohammad Emdad Ullah Mian, said at a news conference in Dhaka last week, local media reported.

"About 50 tons of mangoes will be exported to China this year", and talks are on with Chinese authorities as well as the Chinese ambassador in Dhaka for more exports, he said.

There are plans to export jackfruit from Bangladesh to China in various phases, he said.

The news of fruit exports to China was welcomed by Bangladeshi industry organizations and fruit growers.

Ashfaqur Rahman Palash, president of the Bangladesh Association of Hong Kong, told China Daily, "I think it's a very good initiative from the Chinese government, and I believe through this deal our friendship will be stronger."

Mango trade will benefit both countries, he said, adding Bangladeshi mangoes have several plus points.

The mangoes are priced favorably from the consumer perspective, and many are also grown organically, he said, adding that Bangladeshi mangoes will "make a huge difference "to China compared with imports of the fruit from any other country.

Al Mamun Mridha, former secretary-general of the Bangladesh China Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said there is significant potential for Bangladeshi mango exports to China.

"The rising demand for tropical fruits in China, along with duty-free access under the Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement and complementary harvest seasons, offers a strategic advantage (to Bangladesh)," he said.

Because of favorable weather conditions, mangoes are growing abundantly across Bangladesh right now. Emdad Ullah Mian said Bangladesh produces on average 2.5 million tons of mangoes each year, but exports only 1,000 to 3,000 tons.

The country received approval from China's General Administration of Customs in July for export of fresh mangoes. Reports say Bangladesh is still awaiting Chinese approval for jackfruit and guava exports.

Enthused by initiative

This mango export initiative has enthused local farmers who are eager to showcase Bangladesh's premium mango varieties such as Langra and Himsagar in the vast Chinese market.

Chapai Nawabganj District, about 300 kilometers northwest of Dhaka, is Bangladesh's main mango-growing district and is popularly called the country's "Capital of Mango".

Md Akas Ali, an orchard owner and trader in Chapai Nawabganj, which has been famous in recent years for producing high-quality, chemical-free mangoes by using Chinese methods as an effective alternative to chemical pesticides, said, "We (see) this opportunity (to export mangoes to China) as a transformative boost for our mango farming and our livelihoods.

"We are very happy because China is a very lucrative market with its vast (number of) consumers."

Ali said farmers are expecting income stability amid volatile local demand during peak season of mangoes.

"We need more collaborative efforts with the Bangladeshi government and private sectors from Bangladesh and China for our capacity-building as we are marking a new era of agricultural prosperity in Bangladesh," he said. "If we can maintain quality standards, China could surely emerge as a major market for Bangladeshi mangoes."

Mridha said key challenges must be addressed, including compliance with stringent Chinese phytosanitary standards, and Bangladesh's limited cold chain infrastructure, weak branding and logistical inefficiencies.

"With sustained regulatory compliance, marketing and institutional coordination, Bangladesh is well-positioned to capture a share of China's growing mango market," he said.

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NK Sanchaya is a freelance journalist for China Daily.