The Dutch agricultural industry and the Western Cape provincial government are collaborating to develop the local agro-processing sector and boost Western Cape’s market share in Europe, according to business site BDlive.

The timing of this joint venture is concurrent with the European Union’s plan to discontinue some imports like citrus from South Africa; this is to look after its European producers. South Africa’s citrus exports to the European Union (EU) amount 40%, one of the country’s essential markets.

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Provincial finance, economic development and tourism MEC Alan Winde gathered with companies under the Netherlands Agro, Food & Technology Centre last week. The purpose of the meeting was to improve the partnership between the agricultural sectors of the Netherlands and the South African province.

The government of the Netherlands wants to enhance imports from developing countries through its agency, the Centre for the Promotion of Imports from Developing Countries.

"The Netherlands Agro, Food & Technology Centre is opening an office in Cape Town later this year. They want to explore synergies in agriculture and look at how they can help grow our new agricultural economy, (and) agro-processing," Winde said.

The MEC also said that Western Cape has growth and job opportunities. They want to work hand in hand to increase exports from their area to the Netherlands. He believes they will be able to attain better EU market share through the port of Rotterdam, in the Netherlands, which he considers to be Europe’s gateway.