China’s agriculture products to capture regional market

After gaining significant market share for its manufactured goods in the UAE and the rest of the Middle East, China is set to make inroads into the regional agriculture sector in a big way through an upcoming trade event in Sharjah. In a global first, the Chinese government is bringing its leading agriculture enterprises to the Middle East to take part in the Chinese Commodities Fair Sharjah at Expo Centre Sharjah from Dec.10-13, 2012. Titled ‘China Agriculture Expo’, the high-profile event aims to acquire a considerable stake in the market for agricultural produce, equipment, fertilizers and inputs that are imported to meet local and regional requirements. “The Chinese Prime Minister’s visit to the UAE in January this year heralded a new era of commercial cooperation between China and the UAE and saw the signing of a strategic bilateral partnership and several other key agreements. Now, for the first time, China has chosen Sharjah and CCFS to showcase its agriculture might,” said Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, Director-General of Expo Centre Sharjah, who was addressing a press conference announcing the 11th edition of the show. Zhang Yi, Counselor, Economic and Commercial Section of Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Dubai; Zhang Baojun, Representative, Representative Office in the Gulf Area of CCPIT; and Patrick Zheng Shuo, General Manager, China Machinery & Electronics Products Exhibition Center (Chinamex), also addressed the press conference. “The GCC is one of the biggest importers of food in the world and now the time has come for the region to reduce its reliance on food imports and focus on sustainable agriculture practices. The expo will be a boon for local and regional farm owners and traders to acquire high quality Chinese agri products and equipment that are competitively priced,” said Midfa. “The show will also provide a big push to the national initiative to build a green economy by enhancing co-operation with leading Chinese agricultural enterprises. Agriculture is a key component of the green initiative that aims to promote organic farming through incentives at the federal and local levels,” added Midfa. China has made great achievements in farming techniques, agricultural technology, utilisation of new energy sources and cultivation methods. Chinese agricultural products, equipment and inputs not only meet the demand of 1.3 billion Chinese people but have also become an export industry, with its agri exports touching $34.46 billion, up 3.8 per cent year-on-year, in the first seven months of 2012. “The high potential of the Middle East and Africa is another reason why we chose the agricultural theme for the CCFS. Sharjah is the nerve centre of agricultural trade in Middle East. According to statistics, the total agricultural products’ import to the UAE in 2010 was valued at $11.36 billion, of which only $440 million was from China. It indicates that there is a huge growth potential for agricultural trade,” said Patrick Zheng Shuo. From Gulf Today