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The “Taiwan Agriproducts Export Platform” has substantial success at Foodex Japan 2019

2019-03-08

  For the first time, the Council of Agriculture (COA) has organized a “Taiwan Pavilion” for Taiwanese firms to participate collectively in Foodex Japan 2019. The total amount of orders received in the first three days of the event was NT$70.17 million. When further considering that Taiwan and Japanese businesses signed purchasing orders for bananas and seafood products totaling NT$2.3 billion, the pavilion’s success becomes evident. The COA states that for participation in this year’s exhibition, they formed a “Team Taiwan” in cooperation with city and county governments, the Taiwan External Trade Development Council, Taiwan’s overseas representative offices, farmers associations, industry groups, and trading companies, for the collective promotion of exports. This is the best example to date of the “Taiwan Agriproducts Export Platform” being promoted by the COA. It is hoped that by following this model, along with stabilizing the quality and volume of export products and upgrading the technology for the post-harvest cold chain and transport of agriproducts, exports of these products from Taiwan can increase by 10% to reach the target of NT$180 billion.

  The COA divided the “Taiwan Pavilion” into the “Industry Promotion Area” and the “2020 Tokyo Olympics Food Supply Area. The pavilion displayed Global G.A.P. products, fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables, frozen and processed seafood, and cooked meat products. Business people from around the world attending the exhibition were full of praise for Taiwan’s high quality agricultural and processed food products. In the first three days of the exhibition there were discussions with about 600 businesses in all, while the total amount of orders received reached NT$70.17 million. Exhibited products, including carrots, frozen sugar apples, jujube, edamame, giant grouper, sea bass, mullet roe, abalone, tuna, and steamed buns with barbequed pork, all had considerable success.

  Taiwan’s Chishan Association of Fruits and Vegetables Distribution and Japan’s Wismettac Foods signed a three-year purchasing deal for Taiwanese bananas during the exhibition, for a total of 9000 metric tons of bananas worth NT$430 million. Taiwan’s Mitagri Company and Japan’s Funasho Shoji Company furthermore signed a memorandum of cooperation for the purchase of “oolong bananas” from Taiwan, setting a target of 1000 metric tons. As for aquatic products, Taiwan’s Wen Chi Seafood Company and Japan’s UTIC Company signed a “purchasing order for tuna and processed tuna products,” while Taiwan’s Lucky Holder Company and Japan’s Ras Super Fries Company signed a “letter of intent to purchase Taiwan tilapia, bass, and Sakura shrimp.” Seafood companies that exhibited at Foodex Japan 2019 received orders worth NT$1.8 billion.

  The adoption of a “national team” mentality at the first-ever “Taiwan Pavilion” organized at a Foodex Japan food show demonstrates the operational success of the “Taiwan Agriproducts Export Platform.” The COA has stated that in the future it will use this platform to continue to consolidate traditional export markets in places like mainland China, Japan, and the United States, while pioneering newly rising markets in places such as New Southbound Policy partner countries, Muslim communities, and the Middle East. This will allow consumers from even more countries to enjoy high-quality and safe Taiwan agriproducts, and will usher in a new era for exports of these products.

Photos taken at Foodex Japan 2019.