SEOUL: South Korea is opening its market to Brazilian mango after 13 years of negotiation, according to an announcement made this week by the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture Livestock and Food Supply (Mapa).
The partnership between the Asian and Latin American countries comes after a mission from South Korea joined Mapa’s minister Blairo Maggi on an inspection trip to the San Francisco Valley, a region known for its mango production.
Last November, representatives of the Asian nation visited Brazil to ascertain the phytosanitary state and production process in the area.
Now, representatives of producers and the private sector are working on evaluating the logistics and taxes required to export mango to South Korea. Their main goal is set rules and fees to assure the Brazilian mango is competitive in the market and that the process is effective for local farmers and businesses.
South Korea is a prolific importer of mango. In 2016 alone, the country spent about BRL $48 million importing the exotic fruit from Thailand, the Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, Pakistan, Australia, India, Peru and the United States.
For the Brazilian government, the new deal with the Asian nation is a step forward in increasing Brazilian stakes in agribusiness in the international market.
Mapa aims to grow exports in fresh goods from 6.9% to 10% in five years. In this scenario, the Asian market is a priority for the Ministry of Agriculture.
