The export of the product will begin the last week of next month and to the Chinese port of Tianjin.

The authorization of the General Administration of Customs of China to the Panamanian company Ungasa SA, as a processing plant authorized to export pork to the Asian country, was celebrated this week by representatives of the Panamanian Government and the private sector.

The registration and authorization of the company, located in the central province of Los Santos, contemplates approval for the shipment of frozen pork in carcasses, chops, ribs, shoulders and pork leg, among other cuts.

José Antonio Halphen, general manager of Ungasa, explained that the export of the product will begin the last week of next month and to the Chinese port of Tianjin.

The Minister of Agricultural Development of Panama, Augusto Valderrama, considered regarding the approval of the plant that "it is a very big plus to be able to access a market like China, because it gives the possibility to a small country like Panama to export the surplus of rice, beef and pork that can be produced".

The official also envisioned an export opportunity to this market for dairy products and coffee, stressing that Panama can seek more investments, technology and efficiency to position itself at the level of global competitiveness and to enter the Chinese market, which is demanding in terms of to quality and compliance with health standards.

Halphen also considered relevant the access that Panamanian pork will have to a market like China.

"For us, having been recognized by the Chinese authorities for having products with the capacity to be exported means that our production has been raised to those standards," he said.

He added that Panamanian exports to China open a window to increase national production to unprecedented levels.