The president of the Association of Blueberry Producers from Argentina's Mesopotamia (Apama), Omar Chiarello, met with the Secretary of Commerce of the province of Entre Rios, Nestor Loggio, and officials from the Ministry of Production of the province Entre Rios, to start planning the joint work agenda for this year, taking into account the demands of the sector and the main activities planned by the provincial government.
Among other topics, they spoke about the IBOO 2016 Congress, the trade mission to China, and the possibility of incorporating maritime transport.
Chiarello said he felt optimistic about the status of the negotiations for the entry of local production to Chinese markets, an initiative that was started last year by Apama and other national institutions that met with officials from the Chinese phytosanitary agencies. "China is a strategic partner of Argentina and a market that many sectors wish to enter. However, since it has a very large population, China has very demanding phytosanitary protocols and we are working to meet them," said Chiarello.
A trade mission funded by the Federal Investment Council and headed by governor Gustavo Bordet and representatives of various productive sectors will be arriving to China in the coming months. The provincial government said it was looking to schedule strategic work meetings to boost new business. "We are programming meetings with the agricultural attache in China and the bodies responsible for plant protection," said Maria Jose Perottino, from the Secretariat of Commerce.
Another point discussed at the meeting was the organization of the IBO 2016 Congress, an international event organized by the Argentinean Blueberry Committee that will be held in Concordia in September and that will host more than five hundred references worldwide. One of this year's goals is to promote this convention in China, establishing links with Ambassador Diego Guelar.
Finally, Loggio confirmed an upcoming meeting with the director of the province's Ports, Leonardo Cabrera, in order to begin negotiations for the maritime transport and logistics of Concordia's blueberry production.
