| | Purpose of travel
To enhance and develop strong relationships with key industry and government contacts in Asia that have the potential to advance Alberta’s agriculture and agri-food interests.
Attend and participate in industry led pork and beef seminars promoting and supporting the Alberta industry in Japan, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.
Promote the procurement of Alberta agriculture and agri-food products in the Asian market place (beef, pork, malt, barley, and canola).
Overview
Honourable George Groeneveld, Minister of Alberta Agriculture and Food (AF), led a mission to Japan, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, October 20-30, 2007.
Minister Groeneveld participated in numerous high level industry and government meetings advocating Alberta’s interests.
Mission Objectives
Enhance Alberta’s profile and relationships with key industry and government contacts; advance and advocate Alberta’s trade and investment opportunities in beef, pork, malt, barley, and canola; advance Alberta’s profile as a leader in food safety; showcase Alberta’s progress towards meeting Canada’s requirements for the newly implemented enhanced feed ban and specified risk materials disposal, as well as Alberta’s traceability and surveillance program; advocate for the earliest possible resumption of trade in under thirty months beef and cattle; and express appreciation and support for industry with regards to resumption of trade in under thirty months boneless beef in Taiwan and Hong Kong.
Results
Japan
The Minister and delegation participated in two major industry sponsored seminars promoting Alberta beef and pork - a Canadian Beef Export Federation (CBEF) seminar and a Canada Pork International seminar.
Over 300 attended each of the seminars that included senior representatives from the wholesale, retail, and import sectors of the industry.
Presentations and question/answer sessions provided participants with an understanding of how to ensure greater Alberta access to the critical Japanese market.
Key meetings with senior Canadian Embassy staff provided an opportunity to reiterate Alberta’s interests and priorities in trade and trade policy issues, relative to Alberta industry’s access to the Japanese market. Japan’s market promises far greater demand than what is currently being met by Alberta industry.
Individual meetings with key Japanese companies in both the livestock and crop sectors, resulted in a clear consensus emerging on priority issues such as our trade policy approach for enhanced access.
Other site visits, such as the Nisshin Oillio Isogo plant tour in Yokohama, provided an opportunity to further promote trade with large companies already active in the Alberta market.
Visits to large retail operations, the Tokyo meat market, and importer warehouses provided valuable knowledge to share with Alberta industry on the stringent Japanese market standards and requirements.
There is an opportunity to move more quickly toward enhanced market access for Canadian beef beyond the current restriction to beef from cattle under twenty one months of age. Japanese customers of Canadian beef advised the Minister that Canada should pursue an agreement with Japan for access for boneless beef under thirty months of age as an interim step toward full World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) market access.
Taiwan
The Taiwan program was strongly focused on supporting Taiwan’s recent resumption of trade in Canadian/Alberta beef from cattle under thirty months. The Minister was the keynote speaker at a CBEF promotional event in conjunction with one of the major Taiwanese retail food chains. Discussions were held with major Taiwan beef industry players to thank them for their past and continued support for Canadian/Alberta beef. The meeting was also an opportunity to assess how to better meet market requirements and increase future market access.
The Council of Agriculture in Taiwan stated that they will continue to work with the Taiwan Department of Health to follow OIE guidelines and continue to enhance market access for Canadian beef in Taiwan.
In addition, the Council agreed to take the necessary steps to re-open the market for porcine blood meal. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the Taiwanese authorities will move forward to complete the procedures necessary to resume imports within the next few weeks.
With respect to pork and the ‘PayLean’ issue that is currently impeding Canadian pork imports to Taiwan, the Council indicated that they expect this issue to be dealt with post Spring 2008. Canada will be accorded the same market access as the United States when import regulations are clarified. The delegation met with a major industry player to discuss opportunities for Taiwan investment in Alberta. The advantages to Taiwan consumers of Taiwanese investment in an Alberta supply chain were highlighted.
Hong Kong
Briefings and discussions were held with the Canadian Consulate in Hong Kong. The importance of the Hong Kong market as a springboard for accessing markets in mainland China was emphasized. Clarification was gained on key trade policy strategies that would allow Alberta greater access to the China market.
A meeting was held with senior private sector representatives from the Hong Kong Food Science and Technology Council. The meeting highlighted the fundamental linkage between food safety and market success in Hong Kong and the role that the Council will play in promoting the health and safety of Alberta food products in both Hong Kong and southern China.
Agreement was reached on future areas of cooperation aimed at greater understanding and access to those important markets.
Minister Groeneveld was the keynote speaker at the CBEF sponsored seminar promoting beef trade between Alberta and Hong Kong. The event was well attended with over 200 attendees. Senior representatives of the major industry players in Hong Kong were in attendance.
A tour of City Super supermarket in the new International Financial Centre provided the delegation with an overview of the presence of Alberta food products at this high-end supermarket. Alberta products included: Prairie Harvest Pasta; Kinnikinnick’s gluten free product line; Canola Harvest Canola Oil; Bee Maid Honey; Sylvan Star Cheese; and Alberta beef. The Government of Alberta continues to work with Alberta exporters and Hong Kong retailers and importers to promote the exports of fine Alberta food products to Hong Kong.
Delegation
Honourable George Groeneveld, Minister of Agriculture and Food, and
Michael Norris, Executive Assistant to the Minister |
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