Within the framework of Fruit Attraction, held last week in Madrid, new contacts have been established between Vigo fruit entrepreneurs and the Vigo Port Authority and a delegation of orange operators from South Africa. As explained by Titus Van Lieshout, of the firm Fresh Port, which has its own terminal at the port of Guixar-Vigo, "the war on competition hasn't been won yet; at most, this is only the first battle."
For Vigo's port, the handling of 40,000 tons from South Africa would entail boosting the amount of traffic, which has fallen to really low values, despite the port's good facilities.
According to Van Lieshout, there is still a long way to go before the orange import contract with South Africa can be signed. The fruit is currently arriving through Rotterdam or Sines and they seek reaching through the Mediterranean, but he acknowledges that after the talks held, "we have very good prospects. The Mediterranean is firmly committed to getting the deal, but we have presented a good offer," said the Dutch-born entrepreneur from Vigo.
