Netherlands-based fruit consultancy HDG, which offers services including surveying, quality control and claims handling to the fresh produce industry, will open its first office in Asia at the start of November.
The company plans to set up HDG Asia in Shanghai, where two Chilean employees will lead the development of quality assurance services for imported fresh produce entering China.
According to HDG founder and chief executive Otto de Groot, exporters in South Africa, South America and the US are increasingly shipping fruit to Asia to explore what is seen as a rapidly emerging market, but since many of these players are new to the continent, quality assurance for their cargo is of paramount importance.
Speaking in the October issue of Eurofruit, De Groot said the decision to expand into Asia was based on a constant desire to improve the business.
'Despite the very good path Asia is on, I think there is still a necessity for development of the Asian fruit industry in terms of technology, cooling and logistics,' he explained. 'We don't want to miss the point at which Asia is taking this important leap forward.'
With a strong mix of international and local expertise, HDG Asia should set the right tone for doing business in Asia, he felt.
'Our focus is on functioning as eyes for our future clients, namely the fruit exporters targeting the Asian market,' he added.
