Uruguay’s Interim Minister of Foreign Affairs, Valeria Csukasi, returned from a trip to Japan, New Zealand, Malaysia, and Indonesia, an agenda that deepened the possibilities for commercial exchange and market opening, as well as access to international cooperation in irrigation. On this tour of Asia and Oceania, the head of the portfolio also visited Vietnam, Singapore, and Australia and will travel, at the end of October, to China and the Philippines.
Regarding the visit to Japan, Csukasi reported on the work to accelerate processes to enable the sale of bovine tongue, tripe, and sheep meat, and to authorize new refrigerated plants for export to the Asian country.
The goal of the Uruguayan authorities in Indonesia was “that they identify Uruguay as a potentially key partner in an immense market,” said Csukasi.
The Secretary of State held official meetings aimed at authorizing meat and dairy products. In this context, she mentioned the interest of the local Government in deploying a nutritional plan aimed at children and pregnant mothers, which consists of offering them a glass of milk in schools and hospitals.
In Malaysia, the visit coincided with the arrival of the first shipment of Uruguayan beef, an authorization that required several years. “Today there are only two authorized establishments. We hope this is the starting point for others to be present,” said the interim chancellor.
Finally, the minister explained that the mission in New Zealand included other issues, in addition to commercial ones, such as innovation, irrigation, “green” agriculture, climate change, and “carbon credits,” that is, the financing of projects for the reduction of emissions of this component.
Likewise, she advanced that there is interest in moving forward with cooperation on irrigation in Uruguayan fields, within the framework of the new law promoting this activity.
Csukasi stated that in each country, the products to be exported are identified, as well as the difficulties for their entry into those markets, the promotion, and the support for the work of the embassies in each destination. “We are trying to accumulate the capital to see results in the near future,” she concluded.
