Pailin longan is expected to be the third Cambodian fruit to be officially exported directly to the Chinese market after bananas and mangoes, according to Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Veng Sakhon.
Longan – also known by the botanical name Dimocarpus longan – is a tropical evergreen tree species native to Asia that produces edible fruit. And according to the minister, in Cambodia the fruit is mostly grown in Pailin and Battambang provinces and parts of Preah Vihear province.
On May 7, the Kingdom shipped 100 tonnes of fresh Keo Romiet mangoes to China in its inaugural direct export, nearly two years after the two countries signed a protocol on phytosanitary requirements on June 9, 2019, which paved the way for the export of fresh batches of the fruit.
Cambodia's yellow banana sales to China have also increased rapidly since the first shipment of the fruit was sent in mid-2019, not long after the East Asian country greenlit direct exports. As the ministry's director-general for Agriculture Ngin Chhay previously told The Post, Chinese authorities only consider a single product per country at a time to import.
Sakhon told The Post on May 11 that after the maiden shipment of fresh Cambodian mangoes, the Kingdom will formally propose Pailin longan as the next fruit to export to China, so that Beijing can determine eligibility for import.
Grown in provinces bordering Thailand, Pailin longan has huge potential for export, the minister said, adding that Chinese approval would greatly boost Cambodia's economic growth and create new jobs, in much the same way as with bananas and mangoes.
"After achieving mango exports, we also reiterated our request to the Chinese side to have a look at Pailin longan," he said.
Source: Phnompenhpost.com