Cameroon trade minister Luc Mbarga and Compagnie Fruitière president Robert Fabre (pictured right) were on hand at Europe's largest fruit port this morning to welcome the latest addition to the new fleet of vessels that is now bringing bananas, pineapples and a range of other fruits from West Africa to northern Europe.
They were joined in Antwerp by 200 or more invited guests from the European fresh fruit and vegetable business, including senior executives from Dole Europe, which has been a shareholder in Compagnie Fruitière since 1992 and was part of the decision to develop the new service.
'It's vitally important for the livelihoods of many thousands of people in West Africa that producers are able effectively to market their fruit in the European Union,' said Mr Fabre at a formal reception to welcome the Lady Rose, one of eight reefer vessels on the West Africa route and operated by Africa Express Line Ltd, Compagnie Fruitière's shipping subsidiary.
Compagnie Fruitière's president stressed the vital role played by fruit exports for the economies of West Africa. His views were echoed by Luc Mbarga, Cameroon's trade minister who made an unscheduled plea to guests, which included senior officials from the European Commission, to help the long-term survival of African producers.
Their competitiveness in Europe has been affected by the low dollar, which has made Costa Rican and other fruit from dollar producing countries more attractive for European importers, even with the higher import tariffs levied on dollar bananas entering the EU.
Fruit is unloaded from the AEL vessel Lady Rose in Antwerp
