ChileCarne joined public-private tour to Asia led by the Chilean Minister of Agriculture to strengthen ties and trade

A Chilean delegation led by the Minister of Agriculture, Esteban Valenzuela had a packed and successful agenda in Asia aimed at moving forward with new market openings and better entry conditions for Chilean agricultural products, including meat. The tour covered Vietnam, South Korea, and China. Rodrigo Castañón, ChileCarne’s Business Manager was an active member of the delegation looking to advance the animal health authorization process for Chilean poultry and pork exports to Vietnam, the lifting of restrictions to poultry exports to China, and the negotiation of ASF zoning agreements with South Korea. This measure would allow exports to South Korea to continue in the event of an ASF outbreak in Chile. Castañón said that important progress was made during the work meetings in Asia.

The tour, which took place from October 10 and 17 was headed by the Minister of Agriculture, who visited Vietnam together with the National Director of the Agricultural and Livestock Service (SAG), José Guajardo. Other public officials included the International Relations Officer of the Office of Agricultural Research and Policy (ODEPA), Gabriel Layseca, and SAG Deputy Director of Operations, Rodrigo Astete. They were joined by Fernando Balart, Agricultural Attaché for Southeast Asia and the Chilean Ambassador to Vietnam, Sergio Narea. The delegation also included Miguel Canala-Echeverría, General Manager of the Chilean Exporters Association (Asoex) and Rodrigo Castañón from ChileCarne since both associations work together with SAG to facilitate the entry of Chilean meats and fruits into Asian markets.

The group visited Vietnam on October 10 and 11, with an agenda that included meetings with the Undersecretary of Agriculture and Rural Development, Hoang Trung, and officials from the Department of Plant and Animal Health. They also met with Doan Thi Thanh Mai, the National Assembly’s Economic Affairs Committee Deputy Chairman, who leads the Subcommittee on Agriculture and Natural Resources, as well as representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture’s Agricultural and Livestock Service.

Castañón attended two meetings in the city of Hanoi, one headed by both countries’ ministers of Agriculture and another between SAG’s National Director and the Deputy Director of the Veterinary Department of Vietnam’s health authority. The Vietnamese officials committed to reviewing the latest technical information sent by SAG in the coming weeks. It was agreed that a mission of auditors will visit Chile during the first quarter of 2024 to move forward with the authorization for poultry and pig processing plants. That was the Undersecretary’s commitment reaffirmed by the representative of the Veterinary Department.

On October 13, the delegation continued on to South Korea where they met with JungHee Kim, Commissioner of the Ministry of Agriculture and Lee Byoung-Guan, Director of the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (APQA). The meeting was attended by SAG’s National Director, the Chilean Ambassador to South Korea, Mathias Francke, and Rodrigo Castañón, who explained that “Chile has been declared free of Avian influenza. Furthermore, the APQA also appreciated SAG’s quick response to the technical questionnaire that will help move forward with the ASF zoning agreement. ChileCarne supported the efforts to achieve this milestone in record time.” Mr. Lee committed to promptly review the information provided to keep moving forward. Chile has an excellent reputation in South Korea and is recognized for complying with the strict plant and animal health certification standards, which further strengthens the country’s reputation in food security and safety.

Finally, the delegation arrived in China (October 16 and 17) to continue its efforts to lift the suspension on Chilean poultry imports and move forward with a zoning agreement. The issue of restrictions was raised by President Gabriel Boric to President Xi Jinping as an urgent matter for Chile. The same request was made during a meeting between minister Valenzuela and China’s General Administration of Customs Undersecretary (GACC), Wang Lingjun on October 16. There were also two technical meetings headed by SAG’s Director: one with the GACC Food Bureau and another one with its Quarantine and Plants Department.

During the visit, the Chilean minister and other delegation members also attended Chile Week China 2023, which was held in-person for the first time since the pandemic.