UK-based Pomegreat has become the first international company to purchase any form of fruit juice from Afghanistan after purchasing 500 tonnes of fresh fruit and 500 tonnes of pomegranate concentrate from Omaid Bahar Ltd.
The £3m (€3.35m) deal, which covers the 2010/11 period, is seen as an early step by the Afghan group to achieving its goal of producing and exporting fresh fruit and fruit concentrate across the globe.
'Being given the chance to source the best pomegranates in the world, from their spiritual home, is something that I couldn't overlook' said Adam Pritchard, chief executive at Pomegreat Ltd. 'The Afghan pomegranate is the best in the world and in ten years sourcing pomegrantes from many other countries, I have never previously encountered juice of the quality Omaid Bahar is offering.
'My long-term aim is for pomegranates and other fruit juices from Afghanistan to become a valuable and valid commodity that can be exported around the world,' he added.
Omaid Bahar is Afghanistan's first fruit processing facility, based in Kabul, and was launched in October 2009 after receiving support from USAID.
