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The first pilot batch of Indian mangoes will soon reach US stores. This was the sweetener at a ‘Coffee with HT’ session with the US ambassador to India, David Mulford at Hindustan Times House on Wednesday.

“It is a very important symbolic issue,” the ambassador said. Indian mangoes have never been allowed into the United States before, as they apparently failed to meet the sanitary and phytosanitary standards (SPS) of that country. But an agreement worked out between Indian and US officials during President George Bush’s India visit last year, will see mango exports from India to the US start from this season.

Mulford said he expected India to be among the top four global economies of the world within the next 10 years if its current growth momentum of 8-9 per cent annually was sustained. “But much will depend upon India’s progress in overcoming the challenges faced in infrastructure, agriculture and energy,” he told senior editors of the Hindustan Times.

Mulford said the US was working closely with India on clean energy sources like coal gasification and wind power. As for agriculture, besides aiding research and water management, the US will help India in processing, packaging and retailing food products which will benefit farmers by generating organised demand and a support system.

Email author: madhavan.n@hindustantimes.com