Delegation visits Vietnam and Indonesia and delivers market access improvements for fresh fruit
A Chilean public-private trade mission to Asia has secured market access breakthroughs for fresh produce in Vietnam and Indonesia.
The delegation was led by Chilean undersecretary of agriculture Francesco Venezian, and featured representatives from the Office of Agricultural Studies and Policies (ODEPA) and Frutas de Chile.
“We are very pleased to wrap up this tour of Asia; it was highly productive, allowing us to advance agreements and understandings, as well as foster new opportunities for cooperation and arrange visits to Chile by our counterparts. The work carried out in Indonesia, Vietnam, and China will enable us to further strengthen commercial and sanitary ties, while showcasing the strengths and high standards of our agri-food products firsthand,” said Venezian.
In Vietnam, discussions with the country’s Plant Protection Department (PPD) yielded positive results. The PPD confirmed access for Chilean cherries by airfreight, establishing two options: a 28-day cold treatment and a ‘systems approach’ without cold treatment—a procedure that Chile’s agricultural and livestock government agency SAG will finalise shortly.
Vietnamese authorities also committed to a technical visit to resolve market access issues for Chilean kiwifruit in March or April of next year, and directed that administrative processes for blueberry access be expedited.
In Indonesia, a new protocol was signed between Chile and the Indonesian Quarantine Service formally recognising fruit-fly-free areas in Chile.
This protocol exempts shipments originating from pest-free areas from in-transit cold treatment. According to Miguel Canala-Echeverría, general manager of Frutas de Chile, the change will substantially reduce logistics costs, open up air freight options, and directly benefit sensitive varieties such as lemons.
”The initiatives undertaken and agreements signed represent a significant milestone in diversifying export destinations and streamlining shipments to one of the most dynamic regions in global trade,” said Canala-Echeverría.
