The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum's Fourth Food Security Ministerial Meeting (FSMM) is currently underway in northern Peru. Agriculture Minister Jose Manuel Hernandez announced on Monday 26 September that Peru's government is reaching major bilateral agricultural agreements at the events.
"We've held bilateral meetings with a number of countries this morning, and we see major progress for some products, such as blueberries. We expect the final protocol to be signed in November at the APEC Summit in Lima," he said during a press conference.
According to the government official, the spectrum covered by said agreements will be revealed tomorrow once meetings come to an end.
Monday's gatherings were attended by authorities from New Zealand, the U.S., Japan and Chinese Taipei.
Phytosanitary barriers
On other matters, Hernandez highlighted the relevance of APEC Forum to remove sanitary and phytosanitary barriers.
However, he made clear, said negotiations will take place through bilateral meetings with member countries and not in an integral manner.
"We are working on Hass avocados, tangerines, mangoes, guavas, pomegranates, among other products, so they will have access to Asian markets," he pointed out.
In this respect, the Agriculture portfolio Head underlined that such measures are part of the government's joint work towards doubling agricultural exports in the medium term, so they will exceed US$10.00 billion by 2021.
Likewise, the government official emphasised progress regarding Peru's native product biosecurity, through the National Germplasm Bank.
"It [the Bank] will allow us to safeguard Peru's native products, as well as to give their origin locations proper recognition," he said.
"We have addressed this subject during the meetings held, and we expect full cooperation," he said.
To conclude, he stressed APEC's FSMM puts Piura in the global spotlight and might boost the region's trade and investment levels.
"The agreements we reach here will be signed within the Piura Declaration [on Food Security], and that is relevant for the region," he noted.
