Chilean Pork was one of the focus points of President Michelle Bachelet’s official visit to Japan

The trip took place in February and was the president’s last official tour of the country. The Executive President of the Chilean meat exporters’ trade association, ExpoCarnes, Juan Carlos Domínguez was present on the tour.

In 2016, it is estimated that Japanese consumers ate around 26% of Chile’s total pork exports. During President Bachelet’s last official visit to Japan, pork formed the basis of the main course served at the Entrepreneurial Meeting between the Chilean delegation and local authorities.

Juan Carlos Domínguez, the Executive President of ExpoCarnes, stressed the importance of Japan, ranking it as Chile’s most important market and emphasized the continued growth of pork exports in the region. “Japan is currently Chile’s third biggest trading partner and the biggest for our pork exports. Chile’s pork exporters and Japanese importers have been working together for over 20 years and this has allowed Chile and its industry-wide brand ChilePork to position Chilean pork as the first choice among Japanese buyers.”

HM Emperor Akihito, HM Prince Akishino, the Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, and a group of distinguished Japanese business people with investments in Chile were important guests at the meetings with the Chilean President’s chosen delegation. “We are very proud that the President invited us to be part of the official delegation for her trip to Japan to mark the 120-year relationship between the two countries. This is recognition of the work undertaken by our trade association, but most importantly, of the contribution of our industry to the development of our country and its exports,” Juan Carlos Domínguez said.

For 2018, it is predicted that pork exports to Japan and the other Asian markets will grow, reaching at least US$1 billion.