Chile is the third largest exporter of kiwifruit in the world and in 2017 earned $188 million through kiwifruit exports. With Chile signing a preferential trade agreement (PTA) with India last year, the Latin American country enjoys 50 percent tariff advantage as compared to other countries that export kiwis to India.
According to Carvajal, Chilean kiwifruit exports to India in 2017-18 amounted to more than 5,300 tons. “In the current season, we have already crossed 8,000 tons till date.”
Apart from the price advantage, exports from Chile have a seasonal edge. Unlike in other major kiwifruit producing countries where kiwis are produced mainly from October onwards, in Chile kiwifruit grows between March and October. This is one of the advantages of being in the southern hemisphere, Carvajal said.
“The Indian market is very important to Chile for many reasons. Firstly, the sheer size of the Indian market. Second, Chile needs to diversify into exporting newer products,” said Carolina Vasquez, trade commissioner at the Chilean Embassy in New Delhi. “Through this campaign, our aim is to promote our kiwifruit and also raise awareness about Chile as a unique supplier of an array of food products such as berries, nuts and seafood, as well as creating a greater understanding of the benefits of the PTA signed between Chile and India.”
Source: thehindubusinessline.com
