by Victoria Arguello
BUENOS AIRES, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Argentine exporters are eyeing the trade opportunities presented by China's growing consumer market, a local senior trade official has said.
For the western province of Mendoza, China has become a significant importer of its raw materials and value-added goods ranging from concentrated grape juice to award-winning wines and extra virgin olive oils.
"Last year, we exported nearly 20 million U.S. dollars (in goods) to China, mainly bottled wine and concentrated grape juice. With China, we have growth opportunities," Mario Lazzaro, executive director of ProMendoza, the regional trade and investment promotion agency, told Xinhua.
China's economic growth and development has spurred bilateral trade, becoming an "important partner for Argentina" in boosting productivity, Lazzaro said.
ProMendoza, a public-private sector initiative, combines the efforts of regional business chambers, industrial groups, and local and regional officials.
"Mendoza produces food, fruits, vegetables, and industrializes these products, of which the most famous is wine, along with grapes," said Lazzaro.
The province initially exported wine "in bulk" to China, as compared to bottled wines, but that has changed as local industry evolved and Chinese consumers grew more sophisticated.
"Argentina began with selling low-priced wine and then gradually incorporated high-priced wines as its industry became more technified and obtained world-class wine," said Lazzaro.
"As China's economy grew, its population became more accustomed to drinking top-tier wines and that's where the two trends converge," he said.
Recently, 23 different Mendoza wineries traveled to the Chinese cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Xiamen, Guangzhou and Shenzhen to take part in international wine and spirits exhibition and other road shows.
"Our wine exports to China grew between 7 and 10 percent annually, and at this moment, we expect to grow more," said Lazzaro.
Mendoza's ties with China "are quite important," comprising two-way trade and hopefully in the near future, tourism, he said.
"As we continue to work together, we will find greater points of interest in common, because Mendoza buys products from China...such as roadway machinery," he said.
One of Mendoza's goals or challenges is to establish a foothold in "China's duty free zones," with an eye to selling more value-added goods, he added.
With that in mind, the province is looking into the first ever China International Import Expo (CIIE), to be held on Nov. 5-10 in Shanghai.
"I think it is highly important that by strengthening ties with China, we can put the problem of selling just raw materials behind us," said Lazzaro, adding "wine is an example of that."
While trying to expand its exports to China, Mendoza wants to "take the best Argentina has to offer China's different cities," said the local trade official.
