In the framework of the last day of his trip to Asia, and in the presence of importers, retailers and Korean distributors, as well as representatives of the media, the Chilean Minister of Agriculture, Carlos Furche, together with the president of Chile's Cherry Committee, Cristián Tagle and the President of the Association of Chilean Fruit Exporters (ASOEX), Ronald Bown, attended the ceremony which marked the start of Chilean fresh cherry exports to the South Korean market, recently opened after a formal notification of the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (QIA) of that country.
The event was also attended by the national director of the SAG, Ángel Sartori, and Chile's marketing director in South Korea, Patricio Parraguez, among other members of the Chilean public-private mission which visited China and South Korea just last week with the goal of strengthening Chile's ties with the two Asian nations.
The ceremony was held during the afternoon of Friday (Korean time) at the Westin Chosun Hotel in Seoul, where those present had the chance to taste the product and take home a basket of Chilean cherries as a gift.
"Over the years, we've had a very positive business relationship for both countries with our fruits, grapes, blueberries and wine, and we are very pleased that from now on you will also be able to enjoy our cherries. Fortunately, our production and export of cherries takes place during the winter here, so there is no chance to compete with local producers," stated Minister Furche.
South Korea is a market with an increasing demand for safe, quality foods and, in that sense, Chile's reputation plays an important role in the opening of borders to the country's domestic food production. Currently, Chile is successfully exporting grapes, walnuts, pork and poultry to South Korea.
Meanwhile, the president of Asoex, Ronald Bown, said that the opening of the Korean market "is a major step forward for the marketing of Chilean cherries, because it will allow us to expand our exports to other countries not only in territorial terms, but also when it comes to different varieties selected for Korean consumers. This will make it possible for other Chilean producers to enter this market, which has different characteristics when compared to other Asian destinations."
FTA South Korea-Chile
The entry of Chilean cherries into a market with over 50 million people is taking place in the framework of the 11th anniversary of the signing of the free trade agreement between Chile and South Korea, which was the first signed by the latter with a non-Asian country.