Mexico eyes enormous opportunity for its farm produce in Chinese market

MEXICO CITY - Mexican Agriculture Minister Jose Calzada Rovirosa said the south American country is eyeing expanding the scope of its farm produce exports to China, local media reported Sunday.

Rovirosa, who arrived in China on Saturday for a working visit, will meet with various government officials in China to "review progress in (sanitary) protocols for the exportation, in the short and medium term, of powdered milk and baby formula, tobacco and white corn, and to open the market to bananas," Mexico's daily La Jornada said.

Calzada will also take part in a business meeting with Chinese importers to explore the potential opportunities in the Chinese market for Mexico's agricultural sector, the daily said.

After arriving in Beijing, Calzada told Mexico's state news agency Notimex that the sector's trade balance with China "is very positive for Mexico."

"With the quality we have, and the demand that currently exists in China, we will certainly be able to establish very good synergy with this important country," added Calzada, whose ministry also oversees livestock and fisheries.