On November 6th, the 16th Belt and Road Eco-Agriculture and Food Safety Forum was successfully held in Shanghai as a concurrent event of the 6th China International Import Expo. The forum was hosted by the State Administration for Market Regulation and co-organized by the Shanghai Municipal Administration for Market Regulation, the Development Research Center of the State Administration for Market Regulation, and the Secretariat of the Belt and Road Eco-Agriculture and Food Safety Forum. Sergio Cabrera, Ambassador of Colombia to China, delivered a speech via a pre-record video.
Sergio Cabrera, Ambassador of Colombia to China, delivered a speech via a pre-record video
Dear Friends,
Congratulations to the State Administration of Market Regulation for holding this Belt and Road Forum on Eco-Agriculture and Food Safety.
I am pleased to join you to share Colombia's vision in the dairy sector and to talk about the development potential in China for food imports.
Two weeks ago, our President Gustavo Petro visited China to open a new chapter in the diplomatic and trade relationship between the two countries and reiterate the message of interest in increasing the presence of Colombian agro-industrial products in China.
China is Colombia's second largest trading partner and the largest investor in Asia...and there is total compatibility between Colombian agricultural production and Chinese demand for high quality food.
While Colombia is known for its coffee, fruits, meats, chocolates and other foods, dairy products have also been a traditional industry in the domestic market and have gained space in the international market.
In the first half of this year, the amount of dairy and dairy products exports from Colombia to the world grew by almost 60% compared to the same period in 2022.
Dairy imports globally grew by EIGHT PERCENT between 2021 and 2022. Today, there is great potential in the sector to expand production.
Therefore, world milk production is projected to increase by almost TWO PERCENT annually for the next TEN years, where the main dairy products will be cheese, milk powder, butter or whey.
Forecasts also indicate that Asia Pacific and the Middle East are the regions where the greatest growth in dairy sales is expected, which is through supermarkets and independent stores.
Colombia, although it does not currently export dairy products to China, due to market conditions, has clear prospects for the sector in this country, which will increase its demand for fresh and processed products as the population's income rises.
Likewise, we understand the consumption trends, where not only for dairy products, but for the other products we export, there is compatibility with the Chinese consumer who seeks to implement special, nutritious and functional diets with new foods.
There are great challenges for the sustainability and logistics of the dairy sector, where new products must be developed, new technologies applied, and where competition must be encouraged without losing quality or properties.
The new paradigm for the industry and food security will have to be determined by the development of high quality products that guarantee milk availability, income for the productive sector, and access to relevant markets.
Colombia is the fifth country in the world with the highest per capita consumption of dairy products, and is the fourth largest milk producer in Latin America.
Our country offers these advantages for investors, buyers and consumers, with diversified maritime and air access export routes, and an export-oriented and entrepreneurial sector that is growing with more than 120 free trade zones throughout the country.
I invite you to explore Colombia as an option for investment or purchase of food products to export different products, including milk and its derivatives to China and all target markets for your companies.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
The theme of the forum is, ‘Deepening the Belt and Road Cooperation in Agriculture and Food: Jointly Creating a Better Life for Humanity.’ Leaders from the State Administration for Market Regulation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, National Health Commission, General Administration of Customs, as well as leaders from Shanghai, Henan, Hainan, and other provincial governments, representatives of provincial market supervision departments, representatives of relevant United Nations organizations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and embassies of South Africa, the Netherlands, Colombia, Sri Lanka, Bulgaria, Tanzania, Senegal, among others, along with over 400 delegates from domestic and international enterprises, participated in the forum. Guests collectively deliberated on agricultural cooperation and food industry development, contributing insights and strategies for the high-quality development of agriculture and food industries in the Belt and Road Initiative, highlighting the role of the forum as a platform for policy interpretation.
2023 marks the 10th anniversary of the proposal of the Belt and Road Initiative and the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Eco-Agriculture and Food Safety Forum. Over the past decade, the forum has been successfully held for 15 sessions within the framework of the National Food Safety Publicity Week and the China International Import Expo. The forum has solidly promoted high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road, extensively conducted exchanges and cooperation in the agricultural and food industries, played a significant role in the development and safety of agricultural food industries in the countries along the route, and facilitated smooth international trade among the Belt and Road countries.
