A Chilean public-private mission led by Carlos Furche, the Minister of Agriculture, arrived to Shanghai to work on a busy agenda that includes meetings with officials and businessmen, signing protocols, and dissemination activities. This mission was developed after China recently granted access to Chilean food products to China and Korea, such as the entry of avocados and shelled walnuts to China, and cherries to South Korea.
The day began with a visit to the Chilean pavilion in the Free Trade Tryout Area where China Chile Central, an initiative of the Chinese government that seeks to encourage market liberalization and attract foreign investment, is operating. Established in 2013, this experience is strategically located in the area of Wai Gao Qiao, it covers 28.8 square kilometers of the city and including logistic, port, and airport facilities.
Chile, Australia, Italy, and Russia have a space where SMEs can display their products, as was ratified on August 24, as part of Chile Week, through a cooperation agreement between Direcon, ProChile and China Central Chile to facilitate the arrival of these smaller companies.
On that occasion, Minister Furche emphasised the potential of being present and having an operation base in the largest port representing Chile.
In turn, the President of ASOEX highlighted the work done by the public and private sectors as it has improved the conditions and access of Chilean fruit to China. He also spoke about the good relations and trust that the Chinese authorities had with Chilean products, which ultimately had led to the opening of new fruits, such as the avocado and shelled walnuts. Currently the access of Chilean nectarines is being negotiated.
The director of the SAG, Angel Sartori, the heads of International Affairs of ODEPA and the SAG, Rodrigo Contreras and Veronica Echavarri, respectively, the president of Asoex, Ronald Bown, the general manager of Asprocer, Rodrigo Castañón, and the president of Chilenut, Juan Luis Vial, were also part of the delegation.
Cherries on Chinese flights
On Monday, the delegation met with the heads of China Eastern Airlines to discuss the possibility of increasing exports to China by air.
In this regard it is important to recall that in December 2015, the Asoex's Cherry Committee- along with the Embassy of Chile in China and Chile's Trade Office in Shanghai- conducted a promotional campaign in the airline where the passengers of the Shangai-Beijing route were given tastings of Chilean cherries and suggestions as to where to buy the product online.
China is currently Chile's largest trading partner. Agricultural and forestry exports to that country in 2015 amounted to 2,393 million dollars, 915 million of which were of agricultural shipments and 224 million were livestock shipments. The main export products include cherries, grapes, and wines.
Monday's session ended with a meeting with the Chilean Chamber in Shanghai and 15 young Chilean entrepreneurs of the fruit, wine, and meat sectors, living in China. Minister Furche appreciated the initiative of the Chilean entrepreneurs who delivered a broad market prospect and spoke about the great potential that the Chilean agricultural products had in this market.
Source: asoex.cl