China Network to Shaanxi & Yunnan Pt.2: Meetings with Dutch Entrepreneurs and an Introduction to Chinese Knowledge Institutes
Last week was a busy week for the China (Agri) network. Consul General Koen Sizoo, agricultural counselor Wouter Verhey, and agricultural advisor Xizhe Hu visited fairs, companies, and science institutes and organized many activities in Shaanxi and Yunnan province.
On October 26th, Koen, Wouter and Xizhe had traveled down south to visit Anthura China. Anthura propagates and supplies Anthurium and Phalaenopsis young plants to growers worldwide. As of 2020, Anthura owns more than 90% of the DNA rights of the Anthurium in the Chinese market. Their market share in sales, however, is only 35% in China. Plant breeder right protection have become increasingly crucial for the healthy development of the flower sector. Following their visit to Anthura, they visited Hasfarm China, one of the biggest fresh-cut growers worldwide.
In the afternoon, we invited ten Dutch(-related) local companies located in Yunnan for a Roundtable about Yunnan's horticulture business.
Operations throughout the entire production chain were severely disturbed by the outbreak of the coronavirus earlier this year. But despite this hit, the companies took optimistic views on future development. Other topics that the attendees discussed included taxation, difficulties with operational staff, and property rights.
Wouter and Xizhe finished their trip Yunnan with a meeting with delegates from the Yunnan Flower Technology Promotion and Training Center and Flower Institute at Yunnan Academy of Agriculture Sciences. Experts introduced a number of projects that are relevant for the Dutch entrepreneurs, such as flower promotion events and practical training programs.