Hogan consideres integration and competitiveness as keys for the succes of pig sector
European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Phil Hogan, highlighted as key to the success of Spanish and Community pig sector “professionalism, competitiveness, and integration” and encouraged “further work on the medium and long term to ensure a future sparkly”.
Hogan made these remarks on the occasion of his speech at the opening ceremony of the ‘Third Forum Porcino International’, organized by the Interprofessional Porcine Whitecloak (INTERPORC), to which has come along with the minister in functions of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Isabel García Tejerina.
Hogan: “the EU pig sector has shown a very large flexibility to face major challenges, achieving an increase in production of 3.6%”
For her part, Minister of Agriculture stressed the productive potential of Spanish pig sector, which “has a census through heads 27 million, confirming the trend shown at the end of 2015 which places first to Spain by above Germany “.
Isabel García Tejerina has indicated that production and industry are a source of wealth and jobs with a very clear export vocation. In this regard, stressed the excellent pace of exports “in the first seven months of 2016 have reached 1.3 million tons, representing an increase of 22% over the same period in 2015″.
To Tejerina, “the achievements of the sector is not by chance. This remarkable progress is the result of clear thinking, you know where you can get, being constant, joining public and private efforts, adding wills, and making Spain the world power it is today. We have a solid foundation of an industry that arouses admiration and respect. Foundation worthy to serve as an example for those who want to have room in the s. XXI. It is the result of a job well done, a sector that has adapted to changing market conditions”.
Unity, specialization and global vision
Phil Hogan, Manuel García e Isabel García Tejerina.
On the other hand, INTERPORC president, Manuel Garcia, has stated that “the pig industry is a highly globalized sector. For this reason, we are working all from the Interprofessional for pork of Spain has increasingly presence in other countries“.
Garcia noted that “the pig sector have admirable production model that makes us increasingly competitive and also not to innovate. And it is that innovation is not a necessity is a way of life”.
Spain is the largest producer of pig EU country and the third worldwide, with a presence in 130 countries
For the president of the Interprofessional, the success of Spanish pig sector is based on three keys: “drive, which makes us stronger, specialization, which makes us more competitive, and international vision, which makes us what in day we are: leaders. ”
Presentations
In this III International Forum of Sector Porcino he has gathered a cast of speakers of great international importance. Including two high-level representatives of the European Commission: Michael Scannell and Giulio Menato; Brazilian former Minister Francisco Sérgio Turra; a vice president of the Federation of Meat Export USA, Thad Lively; and Arnaud Petit, director of Commerce COPA-COGECA.
Among the topics addressed by the speakers of this conference it has highlighted trade agreements with the United States (TTIP), Canada (CETA), Japan and MERCOSUR, all of great relevance for the pig sector. Also, they have addressed issues such as sanitary barriers to export or trading strategies in international trade.
In his speech, Thad Lively, senior Vice President Trade Access, United States Meat Export Federation (USMEF), stressed the great growth of the American market, noting that “last year we had record production in the US. 65% of our pig will processed products such as ham, bacon, etc. Now we export 25% of our production and 10% is consumed internally in our retail market as fresh pig”.
Thad Lively: “Whenever it is achieving greater efficiency and competitiveness in the pig sector worldwide. In fact, we are seeing a greater increase in EU exports to the US “
For his part, Francisco Turra, Executive President of the Brazilian Association of Animal Protein, said that “Brazil is adapting to the new parameters. In the pig sector there are many opportunities. ” He also stressed that “Brazil complements EU business, so it’s important our collaboration. We are supporting the export of the EU, whose great strength is to transform and sell products with added value. ”
Manuel Garcia and speakers.
On the other hand, Giulio Menato, senior EU who has spent the last 4 years in Washington, stressed that “in the next 10-15 years it is expected that 90% of economic growth takes place outside our European borders”. As regards international agreements, Menato said that “one of the best instruments available to us is the network of free trade agreements that we are building for over 20 years.
Menato: free trade agreements have to be ambitious and approached with a plan. They must also be balanced to provide sufficient export and partnership opportunities. Exports should not be a problem for our domestic production “
Michael Scannell, DG SANTE Food Chain Directorate, Stakeholders and International Relations, stressed that “our role in the EU is to protect our European consumers without being this incompatible with promoting the interests of the industry. We must make our rules so that production does not stop being competitive. ”
Spanish leadership
The head of the Interprofessional Porcine Whitecloak, Alberto Herranz stressed that “the Spanish pig sector is experiencing a historic period in which we exceeded thresholds seemed unattainable.”
Herranz: “We closed the first half of 2016 with a new record exports and our expectation is that we could end the year close to 4.500 millions, if not surpassing them”
Also, Herranz stressed that “we have to consolidate markets, adapt to different consumer culture (eg, consumption of Spanish ham), limitations and regulatory requirements. On trade there will be many battles as countries also protect their productions, pork will continue to dominate and the future will be bright, adapting to the different challenges that come”.
In charge of closing the III International Forum Porcine Sector has been Arnaud Petit, Director Commodities and Trade COPA-COGECA who has said that “it is essential that we look for different markets to traditional, new trade opportunities to reach new markets for nuestrosa producers . We are not saying that we are not in favor of free trade, but we have to take into account fair rules. ”
Source: INTERPORC
