The information was given by the ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Angola, Tsjeard Hoekstra, who met, this Tuesday, with the vice-governor of Huambo, Angelino Elavoco, in a hearing where was discussed the avocado production project, which launches, this Wednesday, in Huambo, the first cluster (group of companies).
On the occasion, according to a statement from the provincial government of Huambo, to which VerAngola had access, the Dutch diplomat informed that the project, valued at more than one million euros, will contribute to stimulating agricultural production in that province, "with emphasis on tropical fruits and allow export through the Caála logistics platform, to the Netherlands, which will later be distributed to other parts of the European continent".
According to the ambassador, the project could enable Angola in the coming years to "occupy top positions in avocado exports, from the Port of Holland, considered one of the largest on the European continent, with a capacity of more than 18 million tons", reads in the note.
Regarding the avocado cluster, scheduled to take place this Wednesday in Huambo, Tsjeard Hoekstra said that it consists of a conference between Angolan and Dutch businesspeople, who are exploring the possibility of exporting avocados from Huambo to the European market.
Quoted by Angop, the ambassador said that in the cluster there will be three large commercial farms, which will facilitate the advancement of the export process, without leaving aside family farmers, who will benefit from trees to produce this fruit and then sell it.
According to the Dutch diplomat, this fruit is widely appreciated on the European continent, especially in his country, which is why the aim is to achieve, in partnership with businesspeople from both countries, a level of production that will enable its entry into the European Union.
He also clarified that avocado has several uses, such as oil, so there are already advance contacts with companies that are interested in exporting it or transforming it into the cosmetics sector, writes Angop.
The vice-governor of Huambo valued the project and guaranteed support for its implementation.
At the meeting, Angelino Elavoco "welcomed the delegation and valued the avocado production project, with the launch of the first cluster, in the province of Huambo, which takes place on Wednesday, having guaranteed full availability and institutional support from the provincial government of Huambo, for the successful implementation of the project", reads the statement from the provincial government.
The provincial vice-governor emphasized that the project will enable the engagement and aggregation of economic operators who already "deal with large-scale avocado production, as well as peasant families and small producers, increasing agricultural production indicators" and combating hunger and poverty.
The hearing was also attended by the president of the Board of Directors of the Angola Cargo and Logistics Certification Regulatory Agency (ARCCLA), Catarino Pereira.
At the time, Catarino Pereira considered that the partnership between ARCCLA and the Netherlands "is a sustainable project, where economic operators and producing families are fundamentally prioritized", the statement also says.
He stated that infrastructures are being developed to store, treat and process agricultural products, due to the increase observed in recent years, adding that there are already small farmers who are exporting avocados and citrus fruits to the Netherlands and that they are well received, making it important continue the investment to guarantee the quality necessary for the European market, writes Angop.
The cluster will be held at the Manuel Rui Monteiro Cultural Center and will serve to present the "Agro-logistics Flying Swans - Plataforma Logística da Caála" project, as well as hold lectures, sign the subsidy contract between the avocado cluster in the province of Huambo and the Dutch government, among others.
