Joined by over 400 guests, the Fruit Exporters Association of Chile AG (ASOEX) has celebrated its 80th anniversary.
The ceremony was held in the Club of the Union in Santiago and was attended by the Minister of Agriculture, Carlos Furche, as well as other national and regional authorities, trade associations, producers and entrepreneurs, diplomatic representatives of friendly countries and UN institutions, as well as members and staff of ASOEX, producers and exporters, product and service providers, consultants, researchers and the media.
Minister Furche stressed how "ASOEX is one of the oldest agricultural associations in the country, and the truth is that, if it didn't exist, we would have to invent it, because the close relationship between the Ministry of Agriculture and the Association of Exporters of Fruits and Vegetables has resulted in the creation of good public policies and facilitated their proper enforcement. Furthermore, ASOEX has played an important role in recent years in the trade liberalisation in Chile, opening the most important markets in developed and emerging countries for our fruit exports. It has played, and continues to play, a key role in promoting our products abroad, as well as in the compliance with food safety standards, which would be difficult to implement without the Association of Fruit Exporters."
The secretary of state added: "It's hard to imagine a dynamic agriculture without a dynamic fruit growing sector. It is, undoubtedly, the engine of our sector's development. That is why we have to think ahead, and I think that what we have to do is to continue working together in partnership in order to secure rights and obligations for all under a common development perspective, besides achieving further progress in the fields of health, safety and quality."
For his part, the President of ASOEX, Ronald Bown, made a call to continue working in the search for new markets, new varieties and to improve the quality and safety of the Chilean fruit. "We are very pleased to celebrate these 80 years with the people who have been important in the development and growth of the sector and in supporting our actions. In this sense, we are pleased to be joined by the Minister of Agriculture, Carlos Furche, with whom we have been working together for several years, not only in agriculture, but also in areas such as the opening of markets and the fight against pests that have caused us some issues, as well as a variety of other subjects in which we have always found support. We are very happy with the collaboration between the Minagri and the Fruit Exporters Association of Chile," said the leader.
Also during his speech, Bown said each of the pillars that guide the work of ASOEX among them: the basics permanent mission to the subject entity; participation and non-discrimination; representativeness; commitment to a long-term vision; verification and certification capacity; transparency and information; spirit of collaboration; integration capacity; participation and association; innovation and integration; transfer; foreign-promotion campaigns presence and positive attitude.
Also during his speech, Bown highlighted each of the pillars on which ASOEX's work is sustained, namely: permanent adherence to the entity's mission; participation and non-discrimination; representativeness; commitment to a long-term vision; verification and certification capacity; transparency and information; spirit of collaboration; integration capacity; participation and association; innovation and integration; transfer; foreign presence-promotions and a proactive attitude.
In the framework of the last pillar, the representative of ASOEX announced that a proposal would be presented to the government very soon regarding the sector in relation to the Government's Productivity and Pro-growth Agenda.
Representing the fruit growers during the ceremony, Olga Gutiérrez, president of the Permanent Bureau of Social and Labour Dialogue (also known as Mesa Frutícola), stated that "for us, it is a joy to congratulate ASOEX for its 80 year anniversary, as well as to highlight the work that we, labourers and employers, have carried out together through Mesa Frutícola, demonstrating that agreements and dialogue can be achieved," she said.