Cambodian mangoes could soon roll to Seoul

The Ministry of Agriculture signed a memorandum of understanding with South Korea yesterday to export Cambodian mangoes and expand its short list of export destinations, a ministry official said.

The deal will help Cambodian farmers supply a new export market, but requires them to fulfil South Korea’s quality expectations, according to ministry spokesman Eang Sophallet.

“South Korea imports a lot of mangoes and they like Cambodian mangoes, especially the keo romeat variety,” Sophallet said.

He said the lower price of Cambodian mangoes compared to neighbouring nations has created high potential for export.

Mong Reththy, whose eponymous agro-industrial conglomerate is one of the country’s leading mango exporters, said the agreement was a win-win situation for both countries and that his company was ready to export as many mangoes as the South Koreans needed.

“If South Korea allows us to export mangoes to their country, the benefit is for all,” he said.

“So far, they haven’t allowed us to export because of their concerns around food safety.”

Reththy said his firm exported around 500 to 600 tonnes of mangos overseas so far this year and was hopeful that the new agreement would increase the volume of exports.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Cambodia had 65,251 hectares of mango plantations in 2014. Local producers currently export to China, France, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.