Iceland hosts first Indian mango promotion program, emphasizes on increasing exports

The rich diversity and export potential of Indian mangoes were recently showcased at Indian mango promotion programs in Reykjavik and Akureyri, the capital and a major town of Iceland, respectively. In a official release on Friday, it was stated that the Embassy of India in Iceland, in association with the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), successfully organized these promotion programs in Reykjavik on June 24 and in Akureyri, in northern Iceland, on June 25.

This was the first Indian mango promotion program in Iceland. Indian Ambassador Arindam Bagchi highlighted the uniqueness of India's world-famous mango varieties and emphasized the vast potential for increasing Indian mango exports to Iceland. Svein Knutsson, Director of Trade Agreements at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iceland, shared his thoughts on the opportunities presented by the India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) and the potential for increasing Indian mango imports in Iceland.

Olfur Stefansson, Secretary General of the Iceland Trade Federation, said that interest in India is continuously growing among the Icelandic business community. He found the prospects for increased imports of Indian agricultural products, particularly mangoes, to be especially encouraging. Anisha Tomer, Second Secretary, Embassy of India, gave a presentation on mango production in India. She explained that India is the world's largest mango-producing country. She also outlined the measures taken by the Indian government to promote mango exports through quality assurance, market access, and international promotion.

These events saw significant participation from importers, members of the diplomatic community, representatives of various Icelandic business organizations, and officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iceland, making them a major success. At the event, guests were introduced to four major varieties of mangoes: Dussehri, Chausa, Langra, and Kesar. The magnificent taste, enchanting aroma, and excellent quality of these mangoes were highly appreciated.

The event served as an important platform for strengthening business relations, promoting Indian agricultural exports, and further consolidating the growing economic partnership between India and Iceland. Currently, Iceland primarily imports mangoes from Thailand, Brazil, Cambodia, Ghana, and Peru. Due to the limited availability of alternative suppliers, mangoes from these countries have established a strong presence in the Icelandic market. In 2025, Iceland imported mangoes worth around $3.3 million, of which around $1 million worth were imported from Thailand alone.

During the Indian mission's interaction with local consumers, it emerged that people in Iceland love mangoes and particularly enjoy consuming them in smoothies, desserts, and fruit salads.