Prochile, the Export Promotion Bureau of Chile in Hong Kong, showcases the best of Chile's agricultural, marine and livestock products to major business people in Hong Kong (Photo credit: Graham Uden)

The importance of Hong Kong's role as the gateway to the Chinese mainland was  underlined with a recent large-scale promotion of Chilean agricultural, marine and livestock products that have become household names in Asia. The export promotion was organised by ProChile, the Export Promotion Bureau of Chile based in Hong Kong.

The Consul-General of Chile Fernando Perez said: "Our aim is to expand our position within Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland and, by joining together with Hong Kong business people, develop opportunities to be major players in this area."
 
Hong Kong's pro-business environment and its excellent infrastructure make the city the most suitable business partner in Asia, Mr Perez added. "As far as re-exports to the  mainland is concerned, from a practical point of view, Hong Kong is the best place to be. Business partners in Hong Kong have the contacts, the networks, and extensive knowledge of the market.''

He said that a free trade pact with China, now being studied by Chilean and Chinese officials, would add further momentum to business with the mainland and Hong Kong. Under the pact, Mr Perez foresees lower tariffs or none at all for some products. China was the third largest market for Chilean products last year.

Chilean exports to Hong Kong are flourishing. "Food imports alone last year were worth HK$800 million (US$103 million),'' Mr Perez said.

Bilateral trade in 2003 added up to HK$25 billion (US$3.2 billion). Hong Kong company Dah Chong Hong, whose trading relationship with Chile goes back two decades, has increased its purchases of canned and frozen products by 187% in the first quarter of 2004.

Speaking on behalf of Chilean exporters at the trade promotion, Ricardo Borzutzky, General Manager of seafood company, PisciSeafood, pointed out that some of the country's excellent produce are not known to Asian importers, retailers and consumers.

Chile, Mr Borzutzky said, is the world's sixth largest exporter of wine and the 10th largest producer. He added that Chile is the world's 8th biggest exporter of marine products and the second biggest exporter of pork and poultry products in the Southern Hemisphere. Mr Borzutzky said the exporters are exploring opportunities for all these products in the region. 

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