Minister Casamiquela together with the director general of the Bureau of Fisheries of the Agriculture Ministry of China, Xingwu Zhao. (Photo: Minagri)
ARGENTINA
Friday, May 08, 2015, 23:30 (GMT + 9)
Argentina-China Fisheries Subcommittee this week held its sixth meeting in Buenos Aires, during which sanitary-technical presentations of Argentine fishery products were made and the continuity of aquaculture training courses for local professionals in the Asian country was discussed.
The meeting was led by Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries of the Nation, Carlos Casamiquela; and the director general of the Bureau of Fisheries of the Agriculture Ministry of China, Xingwu Zhao.
Casamiquela stressed that the strategic partnership achieved between the presidents of both countries "strengthens the political, economic and trade relations in the future".
Besides, the head of the Undersecretariat of Fisheries, Miguel Bustamante, emphasized "the important training support that China is offering to fish farmers".
In this regard, the undersecretary said in June "15 young Argentine fish farmers are travelling to China to receive the second stage of this training, which is part of an agreement reached in the Fishery Subcommittee in 2012".
During the visit, Argentine scientists, technicians and biologists will receive training in aquaculture production in order to promote the capacity this production has in Argentina.
In addition, it is expected that in the coming months an aquaculture act is passed encouraging investment in the sector, which now produces 4,000 tonnes in the provinces of Chaco, Corrientes, Misiones and Neuquen.
Meanwhile, Xingwu Zhao highlighted "the experience and technical capacity" shown by Minister Casamiquela and invited him to visit the Chinese fishing companies which have investments in Argentina.
At the meeting, the Subcommittee held a deal related to the presence of sulphite additive in the Argentine shrimp for entry into the Chinese market.
Meanwhile, experts from the National Health and Food Quality Service (SENASA) and producers held discussions on fishmeal safety given the presence of cadmium in an attempt to resume this product trade after having been affected by the Chinese legislation.
Moreover, this week, a Chinese delegation headed by Xingwu Zhao; the director of the Deep Sea Division of the Fisheries Bureau, Liling Zhao; and representatives of the Association of Overseas Chinese Fishing, visited Puerto Madryn, in Chubut, to assess investment opportunities.
The mayor of Puerto Madryn, Ricardo Sastre said that the projects discussed are related to a fishmeal plant, the installation of cold storage facilities and the construction of a shipyard in Madryn, but they also expressed interest in the tourism sector, reported LU17.