SalmonChile head tapped to improve Chile's relations with Russia

Sofofa, the Chilean manufacturers’ association, has appointed Arturo Clement, the president of industry association SalmonChile, to lead the Chile-Russia Binational Business Council.

The objective of the binational council “is to contribute to the increase in business between countries and play a key role complementing the Foreign Affairs Ministry’s work in looking to build sustainable, long-term relationships,” Sofofa said in a release, highlighting the business councils’ relevance for the private sector.

Chile’s relationship with Russia has been strained when it comes to salmon exports. Russia’s veterinary service, Rosselkhoznadzor, placed a number of Chilean plants on restriction after Russian health authorities reportedly detected traces of crystal violet and antibiotics (oxytetracycline) in farmed salmon.

The veterinary service has since taken some plants off its embargo list but a total of 19 establishments were affected by Russia’s actions: 17 plants and two cold storage warehouses. Chile’s national fisheries agency, Sernapesca, has been working with Russian counterparts to try to streamline approval for the Chilean producers and get them off the restricted list.

Clement recently lamented the low prices at which salmon was selling internationally, saying it will have a bigger impact on the sector than the worldwide coronavirus pandemic.

Sofofa was founded in 1883 to promote Chile’s manufacturing industry and it now brings together 22 business groups from all regions of the country and more than 160 member companies. It also groups 47 sector associations that represent the main sectors of the Chilean economy, such as mining, forestry, pulp and paper suppliers, agribusiness, salmon farming, fishing, and infrastructure and logistics. In turn, those associations represent more than 4,000 companies of different sizes and sectors.

Photo courtesy of Chilean Salmon Marketing Council