As Beijing gears up for the upcoming Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit, South Africa is preparing to dispatch its inaugural shipment of avocados to China. This development is part of a broader narrative on agricultural cooperation, which is anticipated to dominate discussions at the summit scheduled for September 4-6. The FOCAC Summit is not only a platform for dialogue but also an opportunity for African nations to advocate for duty-free access to the Chinese market for their agricultural products.
China, in its quest to reduce dependency on traditional import partners like the United States, the European Union, and Latin American nations, has been diversifying its import portfolio to include a variety of African products such as soybeans, pineapples, chillies, cashew nuts, sesame seeds, and spices. In a recent announcement, China’s General Administration of Customs listed several South African avocado producers as eligible for exporting to the Chinese market, following a bilateral agreement signed during President Xi Jinping’s visit last year.
Derek Donkin, chief executive of the South African Subtropical Growers’ Association, confirmed the clearance from Chinese authorities for avocado exports, marking a significant milestone for South Africa. This move aligns with China’s strategy to broaden its supplier base and cater to the increasing demand for avocados among Chinese consumers. South Africa joins Kenya and Tanzania as the third African nation approved to export avocados to China, adhering to the stringent sanitary and phytosanitary standards set by the Chinese government.
Source: SCMP