Agriculture Minister of Argentina, Carlos Casamiquela. (Photo Credit: Presidencia.gov.ar)

China promises higher fishing investments in Argentina

ARGENTINA
Monday, June 02, 2014, 22:20 (GMT + 9)

The director general of the Bureau of Fisheries of the Ministry of Agriculture of China (MOA), Zhao Xingwu, expressed the local fisheries authorities his country's intention to increase investment in the fisheries sector in Argentina.

The Chinese official led a Chinese delegation that was received by the head of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Carlos Casamiquela.

During a meeting held in the framework of the Fourth Meeting of the Subcommittee on China - Argentina Fisheries, Xingwu voiced his support for the Aquaculture Bill driven by the National Executive and conveyed his interest in promoting investment in Argentina and in providing technology, services and training.

The Minister was accompanied by the head of the Undersecretariat of Fisheries Office, Nestor Miguel Bustamante.

Casamiquela defined the bilateral relationship as "really positive" and stressed "the need to locate this approach in fisheries issues within the overall political and trade framework with China," the President's Office reported in a news release.

Xingwu highlighted that "this new approach and this conversation with the minister is very important to advance in a bilateral good development."

In addition, he stressed the importance for the Chinese firms to implement new fisheries cooperation projects among companies from both countries.

He also said that they are trying the Argentine request to reduce and/or eliminate tariffs on squid (Illex argentinus) and on shrimp (Pleoticus muelleri) from Argentina for entry into China. This fact as well as the entry of Chinese jiggers to national fishery, could be solved from July, he indicated.

"The sooner this issue is solved, the better," pointed out Xingwu, according to Pescare. "We are ready to move forward. The cooperation between the two countries will be larger than we imagined," he added.

Xingwu thanked the Argentine Government for having allowed the entry of nine Chinese jiggers (under Resolution 10/13 of the Federal Fishery Council) and made it clear that his country is interested in being able to enter other 10 jiggers, reported Revista Puerto.

For his part, Bustamante highlighted that aquaculture training programmes aimed at Argentine technicians and producers are underway as well as the exchange of knowledge between scientists at the National Institute for Fisheries Research and Development (INIDEP) and their eastern counterparts.

According to the available data, in 2013 Argentina doubled seafood exports to the Chinese market compared to 2012.

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By Analia Murias
[email protected]
www.seafood.media

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