Slovenia, Hong Kong sign MOU on wine trade cooperation

Slovenia and China's Hong Kong signed here on Sunday a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in wine trade.

The MOU was signed between Slovenian Agriculture Minister Dejan Zidan and visiting Hong Kong's Secretary of Commerce and Economic Development Gregory So, who was hosted by the minister with Slovenian Teran wine, the Slovenian Press Agency (STA) reported quoting a statement issued by the ministry.

Under the MOU, the STA report said, Slovenia and Hong Kong will work towards facilitating wine trade and enhancing cooperation in this line of business.

The Hong Kong secretary hopes his visit would result in increased bilateral cooperation not only in wine business but also in economy and investments.

His visit comes after Zidan visited China and Hong Kong last November, when Slovenia's wines were presented at the Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Fair.

The secretary noted that Hong Kong was the second most important centre for wine auctions in the world, after New York.

In 2016, Hong Kong imported wine worth 1.4 billion euros, of which a billion's worth were exported to China, according to So.

The Slovenian minister Zidan praised the signing of the MOU, saying he sees it as a strategic door to the Asian market.

"There is also a lot of potential in tourism, economy, investment. Concrete proposals will follow in the next few days," he said, hoping that Hong Kong will use Slovenia as the door to enter the EU. Endit