The Government is getting ready to export squash to South Korea

A delegation headed by Ms. Sonia Backes went to Seoul last week 

Despite the request for an export license made for the first time in 2011, several obstacles prevented New Caledonian produced squash being exported over the past years.

Squash producers, represented by the FCTE, met Korea importers, highly interested in the New Caledonian squash which meets the high demand of the South Korean market in terms of quality, size and export season.

The delegation met the South Korean political and administrative authorities to remove Korea’s plant-protection barriers.

The very positive meetings with the Ministry of Agriculture, the QIA Commissioner (Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency) and the South Korea Ministry for Foreign Affairs lead us to hope New Caledonia will be able to export squash to Korea in 2016.

The delegation was greatly supported in this process by the French Embassy in South Korea, who explained how important New Caledonia was for France, particularly regarding the exchanges in the Asia-Pacific region.

It will therefore be possible to add value to the small-sized squash which to this day are thrown away and represent an approximate 30% loss in productivity, and to make New Caledonian products known in South Korea.