Chinese delegation here to improve collaboration | Exporter Magazine

Eleven representatives from China Entry & Exit Inspection and Quarantine Association (CIQA) and from China’s primary sector visited Tauranga on Friday 18th March for two days to learn more about the New Zealand avocado and kiwifruit industries and pipfruit in the Waikato.
 

NZ Avocado led the visit in collaboration with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), Zespri and Pipfruit NZ.
 

“China as a market is very important to New Zealand avocados as we increase productivity and volumes of our amazingly healthy fruit. We do not yet have phytosanitary access to China but wish to understand the market and build relationships for the future. We strongly support the negotiations being led by the Ministry for Primary Industries with the Chinese officials,” says Jen Scoular, NZ Avocado’s CEO.
 

CIQA is an administrative body of the AQSIQ which ensures collaboration between government and commercial/industry members and safeguards China’s industry and agriculture. 
 

The tour began with a visit to John and Cindy Cotterell’s avocado orchard in Katikati where the delegation walked around the bountiful trees and were demonstrated the use of a mobile elevating platform used to pick avocados.
 

CIQA heard presentations from NZ Avocado, Zespri, Pipfruit NZ and MPI and travelled to Plant & Food Research (PFR) in Te Puke for a tour of their facilities.
 

“From our perspective, this is an excellent opportunity to network with officials and commercial people from China, to learn about their business and to share information about our businesses and industries.
 

“It is very positive to be able to offer the delegation a cross-industry perspective, and to share the tour across the three industries in the Bay of Plenty,” says Scoular.