The Secretary of Government for Agroindustry, Luis Miguel Etchevehere, heads a new bilateral mission to the People's Republic of China on April 24 and 25, where he will hold meetings with the main authorities of the Asian country in agroindustrial matters.
We believe that Argentina still has significant room to make progress in the agro-industrial trade as a whole, increasing its role as a reliable food supplier to China. We know that China is opening its market to receive more and better quality agro-food imports, and that is why we believe that there is still room to increase the trade relationship, Etchevehere said at the start of his tour.
The Secretary's agenda includes meetings with the Vice Minister of the Food and Strategic Reserve Administration of China, HAN Weijiang; the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, HAN Changfu; and the Vice Minister of Customs, LI Guo. He will also open the Seminar Dialogue Session of the soybean meal industry of Argentina and China (organized together with the Embassy of Argentina in Beijing, the Food and Strategic Reserve Administration and CIARA) and will speak at the II Cooperation Forum One strip, one route to discuss the progress in the agro-industrial cooperation agenda and the upcoming challenges in the Argentine-Chinese relationship.
At the opening of the seminar on soybean meal, Etchevehere will emphasize Argentina's leadership in soybean production. The Argentine government estimates 55,9 million tons for the current campaign, which represents an annual increase of 48%, with exports in 2018 worth 13.576 billion dollars from the entire soybean complex. In addition, it will be highlighted that Argentine soybean meal is one of our country's main export products and that we currently supply more than 50 countries around the world, including destinations with the highest quality standards, such as the European Union.
As part of his Asian tour, the Secretary will also meet with Vice Premier Hu Chunhua to discuss progress in the ongoing negotiations.
The Argentine delegation will include the Agricultural Advisor in China, Hernán Viola; the coordinator of the INTA Poultry Nutrition Module, Bernardo Iglesias; the head of the Chamber of the Oil Industry (Ciara) and the Cereal Exporters Center (CEC), Gustavo Idígoras; representatives of the Argentine Association of Fats and Oils (ASAGA); Louis Dreyfus Company; Oleaginosa Moreno and Glencore.
Bilateral trade with China
In 2018, total exports to this destination reached US$3.478 billion, of which more than 86% correspond to the agro-industrial sector.
Argentina ranks 13th among agro-industrial suppliers to China. The main exported products are: soybeans, with 42% of the total agro-industrial exports; frozen boneless beef, 28%; shrimp and prawns, 11%.
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