As South African exporters continue to expand their presence in Asian markets, a significant breakthrough has been achieved – after a decade of negotiations, the country’s table grapes have been granted access to the Philippines.
The move comes after Japan opened its doors for South African avocados after many years of deliberations, and last month the first shipment of apples moved to Thailand. Experts said more focus should be on Eastern countries as the market is untapped on many fronts.
In a statement, the South African Table Grape Industry (SATI) said it was pleased that the country has been granted market access for table grape exports to the Philippines.
Decade-long battle won
“The industry looks forward to sending the first consignment, once the final administrative matters are dealt with. This development is a significant milestone and the result of a long-standing collaboration between government and the industry.
“We would like to extend our sincerest gratitude to the ministry and specifically the department of agriculture, the department of international relations and cooperation (the South African embassy in the Philippines), and the Philippine ambassador to South Africa for their continued support and hard work in achieving this goal,” the organisation said.
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According to SATI, the dedication and commitment to strengthening bilateral trade relations between the two countries has been instrumental in securing this market access.
Mecia Petersen, chief executive officer of SATI, said they have been working on expanding market access for South African table grapes and are pleased with this outcome.
Petersen said the Philippine market presents exciting opportunities for their growers and exporters and is likely to create jobs for many people and stabilise the economy.
“The South African Table Grape Industry remains committed to providing high-quality products that meet global market demands. With this new market access, we look forward to building the South African table grape brand in the Philippines,” Petersen said.
Agriculture minister John Steenhuisen said negotiations with the Philippines started on 20 January 2015 and he is delighted that the decade-long negotiations have come to a conclusion. Steenhuisen added that the developments are a step in the right direction for South African agriculture and the economy.
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