Spain eighth world power in agri-food exports

The crisis is serving for some sectors to show their capabilities, and this is what is happening in the food sector. In 2012, the agri-food industry exported 36,000 million euros, making it the eighth world power in agri-food exports.

The Minister of Agriculture and Food, Miguel Arias Cañete, yesterday presented a strategic plan to further boost the sector's exports. The project is designed around four axes: improve administrative coordination between the different institutions, promote information and training in the agri-food sector, support exports and facilitate the opening of new markets.

Last year, the sector posted a positive trade balance of 5,769 million euros, almost 90% more than in 2011, despite the fact that imports increased by 1% in that period.

Among the objectives, there is also a prominent place to increase exports not only in volume, but also in value, in order to achieve an increase in the added value of the sector and, therefore, in profits for Spanish industry.

Arias Cañete did not want to give a specific number of objectives in terms of increasing exports, "I do not put a limit on ambitions," he commented, although he trusted that the sector will double its export figures in 5 or 6 years.