Fisheries undersecretary Raúl Súnico at the agreement settlement with China. (Photo: Subpesca/FIS)
CHILEWednesday, November 12, 2014, 02:00 (GMT + 9)
A Chilean delegation recently visited the main seafood processing plants and marketing firms in Qingdao in the context of the settlement of the Understanding Agreement with China.
The group, led by the head of the Undersecretariat of Fisheries and Aquaculture(SUBPESCA), Raul Sunico, visited three seafood processing plants and the main distribution centre of these products in the Chinese town.
Two of the companies visited are engaged in seaweed processing and the development of the related technology: Qingdao Gather Graet Ocean Seaweed Industry and Qingdao Bright Moon Seaweed Group.
"China is a desirable strategic partner for our country, especially now when we are seeking to enhance the activity of seaweed farming," said the Chilean undersecretary.
"So we want to know the value added product processing industry from these resources and the processing plants we have visited today are world leaders in this field," he added.
The Chilean delegation also visited the Qingdao Chengyang Vegetables and Aquatic Products Wholesale Market, the largest wholesale market in Qingdao and seafood distributor throughout the country.
The last visit was to the processing plant of Qingdao Howyawl Group, which exports 90 per cent of its fresh, chilled and breaded products.
The director of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Service (SERNAPESCA), José Miguel Burgos; PROCHILE representatives; five small and medium enterprises in the Bío Bío Region and a mission of Patagonia Mussel, for whom the visit was an opportunity for the generation of commercial ties, also travelled to China.
Sunico deemed the bilateral agreement signed as "historic" because it "opens up important possibilities for the sector as a whole," a situation that the country should take advantage of.
"These agreements will help maintain and stimulate the flow of shipments and build competitive advantage over other seafood exporters," he stated.
Meanwhile, Burgos explained that "in practical terms, it means that when modifying their requirements the parties should inform the other one, and grant acceptable transition deadlines. This formalization is clearly a breakthrough in trade relations and international trade facilitation of our fishery and aquaculture products."
Chilean fishery product shipments to China generated revenues of USD 343 million in 2013, and it is expected that exports this year are higher given the current export volumes, primarily salmon ones.
Sunico said that last year, Chile exported around 700 tonnes of fresh salmon to China while for this year it is expected exports reach 2,600 tonnes.
The Chilean-Chinese agreement was also signed by the deputy director of the General Administration of Quality Supervision and Quarantine Supervision (AQSIQ) of the People's Republic of China, Zhang Qingrong; and by Chilean Ambassador Jorge Heine.