A government delegation representing Ontario’s leading innovative farming and food processing technology saw investment opportunities in the Chinese market during a recent visit.
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The Ontario group recently attended an international vegetable technology fair in Shouguang, a city in East China’s Shandong Province, known for its greenhouse vegetable production.
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Since 2000, the China (Shouguang) International Vegetable Sci-Tec Fair has been co-hosted by several of China’s ministries, including agriculture, commerce and science and technology. It is the largest of its kind in China.
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From April 20-May 30, 40 countries and regions attended the 16th annual fair to promote their new vegetable and fruit products, technologies and related agriculture services.
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Ontario ag minister Jeff Leal and immigration minister Michael Chan led the Ontario delegation.
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Deputy ministers, agricultural specialists and policy advisers from Ontario, and the trade representatives from Ontario office in Beijing met their Chinese counterparts during the fair.
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Leal, who was a keynote speaker at the opening ceremony of the fair, said Ontario products, such as wine, meat and vegetables, will be available on China’s online shopping websites soon.
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A delegation that consists of government officials and food and agricultural technology companies from Shandong have been invited by the Ontario government and will visit Canada next month.
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Ontario’s agriculture and food sector is worth more than $34 billion and the total sales to the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong reached $832 million last year.
