APEDA looks at infrastructure devp

Vijayawada, Apr 6: The Andhra Pradesh Export Development Authority (APEDA) will soon launch an Integrated Infrastructure Development Project (IIDP) to boost mango exports, Union Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh said today.

Addressing a press conference here, he said the project, would commence in three months and APEDA will work with the State Government on the issue.

Mr Ramesh said Andhra Pradesh accounts for the largest export of mangoes in the country which are grown mainly in Krishna, Chittoor, Vizianagaram and Khammam districts.

The District Collector Navin Mittal had prepared a proposal for creating permanent infrastructure for exporting mangoes, which included, testing facilities, cold storage and marketing facilities, which would cost about Rs 22 crore.

The minister said he had spoken to the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) Managing Director Dipak Tippu about the necessity to provide export assistance for mangoes.

After the U S President George Bush's visit to the country the U S agreed to open a market there for indian mangoes and this created a new opportunity for the nuzvid market, he added.

UNI