|
Cold
Chain Seminar in Guangzhou, China 2002
In cooperation with the Trade and Investment program of FAS, ATO
Guangzhou organized the second Cold Chain Seminar in South China
on June 6, 2002. The first one was held in Shenzhen in Year 2000.
This one was held in Guangzhou. Both of these were funded through
the Emerging Market Program and staffed with experts from the United
States.
Due to funding limit, the Guangzhou seminar had to turn away more
than 100 prospective participants. It drew an audience of 175 people,
from different links of the cold chain, including cold storage managers,
food product distributors, trucking company representatives, supermarket
directors, and food processors. timely and valuable seminar was
the unanimous feedback from the participants. old is good had caught
on as the mantra for cold chain management! old this type of seminar
again was the repeated request.
An indicator of the effectiveness of the cold chain message is the
number of companies willing to participate in Phase II of the Cold
Chain Project. More than 20 companies are interested in working
with U.S. experts to upgrade their cold chain facilities and management.
Later this year, ATO/Guangzhou will pre-screen their applications
and forward the most promising ones to FAS/W for consideration.
Whether Phase II will take place in South China is contingent upon
whether funds are available.
Another indicator of the project effectiveness is the participants
desire for follow-up. At the Guangzhou seminar, the managers of
a major U.S. food processor approached the ATO Director about co-hosting
a HACCP seminar next year. We will prepare a formal proposal for
submission to FAS/W later.
The participants received a consistent message on the profit potential
of proper cold chain management. They also understood our promotion
of improved cold chain management was to facilitate import of U.S.
food and agricultural products into South China.
At the seminar site, 6 U.S. refrigeration companies promoted their
products and services and 1 company provided a refrigerated truck
for demonstration. Local representatives of cooperators provided
information on U.S. fresh fruit, meat, poultry and seafood products.
A reporter interviewed the ATO Director on the Cold Chain project
and its applicability in Guangzhou. Prior to the seminar, an article
on the cold chain project was translated from English and published
in a trade magazine.
The seminar included presentation on refrigerated transportation,
meat processing and food safety, cold storage operation and management,
and fresh produce in supermarkets. The International Association
of Refrigerated Warehouses and World Food Logistic Organization
also informed the participants about its services. The U.S. Consul
General in Guangzhou welcomed the participants and expressed his
support for the seminar
|
