Lahore, July 5, 2018 – The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) celebrated continued support to Pakistan’s mango sector by organizing a ‘Mangolicious Culinary Competition’ in partnership with the College of Tourism and Hotel Management (COTHM) today. USAID Provincial Director for Punjab Lea Swanson and U.S Consulate’s Political Economic Section Chief Ann Mason witnessed students display their culinary skills using different varieties of mangoes. The U.S.-Pakistan Partnership for Agricultural Market Development (AMD) is promoting the export of Pakistani mangoes to the international markets.

“Despite being one of the world’s leading producers of mangoes, Pakistan exports less than 10% of its total production to the global market. The U.S. Government, through USAID, is determined to increase access to new markets for Pakistani mango farmers while ensuring compliance with international grading standards and export protocols. We want to make Pakistani mangoes as competitive as they can be in international markets,” USAID Punjab Provincial Director Lea Swanson noted in her remarks. 

Ms. Swanson also congratulated the participating students saying, “We are passionate about celebrating and investing in the incredible talents of Pakistani youth. I hope events such as today’s Mangolicious Culinary Competition help these talented young people in their pursuit of successful careers.” During the competition, eight teams, comprising three students each, were tasked to prepare mango-based dishes within one hour. The dishes and beverages prepared by the students demonstrated the creativity and skills imparted by COTHM. The U.S. diplomats distributed certificates to the participants.

USAID launched the U.S.-Pakistan Partnership for Agricultural Market Development in February 2015 to improve the ability of Pakistan's commercial agriculture and livestock sectors to compete in international and national markets in the four target product lines; meat, high value and off season vegetables, mangoes, and citrus. This partnership acts as a catalyst for development and investment in the target product lines, helps improve the quality and increase the quantity of exportable agricultural produce, and promotes cooperation among farmers, processers, exporters, and buyers of Pakistani agricultural products in international (non-U.S.) markets thus resulting in increased incomes and generating employment opportunities for Pakistanis.