A delegation of Chilean officials and exporters will head to Dubai from May 22-27 to discuss fruit export opportunities in the region, newspaper Diario Chañarcillo reported.

Prochile regional director Juan Noemi Campos said Dubai could act as a gateway to Middle Eastern markets such as Saudi Arabia, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Kuwait and Qatar, the story reported.

The story highlighted the low tariff rates in the region and its high purchasing power, which is become increasingly attractive for table grape, apple and kiwifruit exporters, among others.

Companies in the delegation will include Agrícola Jaime Perelló Arias, Alto Copiapó S.A., Agro fruta Tocornal Ltda., Exp. Frutícola Alto Diaguita Ltda, Exportadora Claudio Valenzuela Abarca and Torres de Granito S.A., the story reported.

The story pointed to the country's table grape industry's dependence on the U.S. in particular, with 40% of exports bound for the North American country. Chile has recently been actively negotiating trade deals in other parts of the world to diversify its export market scope.

Photo: Flickr, Dominic Sayers

Source: www.freshfruitportal.com