"Peru is a strategic partner for the Netherlands and ExpoAlimentaria is the best stage to showcase the products we can offer," stated the Peruvian director Eric García at the start of the seminar. In his eloquent speech, he stressed that of the 700 million dollars' worth of products exported from Peru to the Netherlands, 90% are agricultural products. "And we're not yet making the most of our full potential. Peru is a sustainable producing country by nature, and now, motivated by SIFAV 2020 (sustainable Initiative for Fruit and Vegetables in the Netherlands), we want to promote this approach."
The seminar was attended by a number of exhibitors with strategies focused on sustainability, which emphasised the opportunity to back the strengthening of this approach in the form of jobs in the South American country. "We will promote projects in Peru; they will have to be sustainable and have the necessary certifications. This will improve cooperation between sectors and distribution channels, making the whole process a more profitable business," stressed Gerard Teuling, of MVO. Also, Corina Kerkmans, of RVO, said that "international cooperation for the development of sustainable production and trade chains is the key to investing in these markets. Working together with Dutch companies and learning about their methods to support exporters is strictly necessary."
During the event, emphasis was also placed on the importance of the Peruvian mentality in business, which is considered one of the reasons for this progressive growth. "'What do you need? We'll produce it' is one of the mottos that characterise Peruvian producers. This characterises the entire business process and, compared with other Latin American countries, almost all are certified. Peru's potential is being discovered by other importing countries, which often offer better prices than us. If we don't look after our producers, they will not care for us. Building mutual loyalty based on an appropriate structure and with special attention to producers is the formula for success," affirmed Carlos Velazco, representative of Eosta, a company specialised in organic products.
"Sustainable business relations and environmentally-friendly production and packing processes are two issues we have wished to highlight this year at Expoalimentaria," was the statement that put an end to the seminar, inviting everyone to visit the fair which is to be held in Peru in September this year.
For more information:
Angélica Kroon
Trade Commission of Peru in the Netherlands
T: +31 1 028 21 236
E: angelica.kroon@perutrade.nl
www.perutrade.nl