The agro-food production from both Chile and Peru could start increasingly complementing one another in the coming years as a result of Chile's invitation to start exporting together to China and India.
"We seriously need to consider "Chindia", which in 2050 will represent 46% of the world's GDP," pointed out Carlos Escaffi Rubio, adviser for the Economic Department from Chile's embassy in Peru. He also added that "what we can do is start collaborating and complementing one another with products such as coffee, fruit, fish and seafood, with the confidence that we can compete in Asia."
Rubio put special emphasis on the fact that Peru should attempt complementing its grape production with Chile's, which is the world's second largest producer, to export together to China. He also recommended merging blueberry and avocado exports, amongst other fruits and vegetables.
Chilean exports
Chile is currently the world's largest blueberry, plum and apple exporter, the second largest cherry and agar exporter and the third largest in raspberry, walnut, raisin and hazelnut shipments. In 2012, the value of its agricultural exports amounted to US$ 51,000 million.
Thanks to the Free Trade Agreement with Peru (in force since 2006), 97% of its products currently include zero tariffs.
Furthermore, Chilean investments in Peru amounted to more than 12,637 million dollars, which represent 16.4% of all foreign investments and have helped create more than 93,000 jobs in Peru.
Source: Agraria.pe