China and Tonga have initialled a protocol for Tongan squash to be exported to China.
The protocol was signed by China's Ambassador to Tonga, .E. Huang Huaguang and the Minister for Agriculture, Food, Forestry and Fisheries, Semisi Fakahau at the MAFFF headquarter.
In the past months, the Chinese Embassy in Tonga has been working closely with Tongan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, MAFFF and the Chinese General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) on the market access of Tongan squash to China.
A government statement said with the joint efforts from all sides, it is quite promising that Tongan squash could reach Chinese market later this year,.
This would be a landmark for China-Tonga cooperation in agricultural sector and would bring benefits to the local farmers and companies.
In order to ensure the smooth of the process, a group of experts from AQSIQ visited Tonga last October and had good discussions with their Tongan counterparts.
The delegation also visited the plantation areas and packing facilities.
Tonga currently exports just over 3,500 tonnes of squash per season, which traditionally spans October to March.
Tongan exports would thus fill a gap in Chinese production over the Northern Hemisphere winter.
Exports are likely to begin later this year if everything goes.