Luis Planas: Internationalisation is one of the basic pillars of the strength of the Spanish agri-food sector

The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas, during his speech at the International Food Industry Fair (SIAL), in Shanghai (China)

Spain, an export powerhouse, sold food and beverages abroad to a value of over €70.4 billion in 2023 - 18.4% of total Spanish exports - of which almost €1.9 billion corresponded to the Chinese market.

Luis Planas has visited the International Food Industry Fair (SIAL) in Shanghai (China), one of the main agri-food fairs on the Asian continent, where the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has an official stand to publicise the wide variety and quality of Spanish food products.

Planas stressed that "our foodstuffs have great international prestige", hence our participation in this fair, which is being attended by more than 70 Spanish companies, and which is a "great opportunity to position Spain as an international food and gastronomic power" in the Asian market.

SIAL Shanghai will take place from 28 to 30 May and is a "magnificent showcase" for Spain's varied agri-food offer in China, the main Spanish market in Asia.

During the visit, he held a meeting with Spanish agri-food companies based in China. At the meeting, the minister said he was proud to represent, from the Spanish administration, a sector that combines avant-garde and tradition to offer citizens safe, healthy, varied and high-quality products made with the most cutting-edge technological advances to achieve a balance between economic profitability and sustainability.

The minister stressed the strategic nature of the food and beverage sector for the Spanish economy, which has consolidated its position as the country's leading industry, placing Spain as the fourth food power in the EU and tenth in the world. The agri-food sector has a turnover of more than €142 billion, employing 440,000 people.

He pointed to other factors contributing to the success of this sector, such as its solid business structure, access to high quality raw materials, the good work of professionals and the high competitiveness of the sector in national and international markets.

Planas pointed out that to consolidate Spain's position as a food and gastronomic power, the ministry is promoting the Food from Spain Strategy. Together with ICEX, it is also developing the "Spain Food Nation" strategy, which brings Spanish products closer to consumers abroad. Interventions in key markets for Spain will be strengthened by means of this agreement

In this context, China is a target country for the Spanish agri-food industry, given that it is the main market in Asia and a very important buyer for certain products, such as pork.

The Government of Spain is making great efforts to open up the Chinese market to other Spanish agri-food products, as was recently the case with almonds and persimmons.

Looking to the future, the minister expressed his department's commitment to continue with promotional activities, appealing to the agri-food sector to maintain its exporting vocation. He also expressed the need to maintain constancy, joint work, mutual trust and diversification of destinations as a recipe for success.

Also present at the fair with their own stands are the interprofessional organisations for white layer pigs (Interporc), sheep and goat meat (Interovic) and beef (Provacuno), with whom he held a brief meeting within the framework of the fair.

Non official translation