The Ambassador of Colombia in Germany, Yadir Salazar, and the Ambassador of Ecuador, Diego Moregón, along with the Banana Cluster of Ecuador, the Banana Growers Association of Colombia (AUGURA), and the commercial offices of each country, organized the panel "BANANA CONNECT: CULTIVATING SUSTAINABILITY, EXPORTING QUALITY, AND A SAFE PRODUCT."
80 representatives from the banana value chain in areas such as logistics and security, among others, attended the event as part of the Fruit Logistica Berlin 2025 fair.
As part of FRUIT LOGISTICA 2025, Europe's most important international fruit and vegetable trade fair, the Banana Cluster of Ecuador and the Banana Growers Association of Colombia (AUGURA) hosted the event "Banana Connect: Cultivating Sustainability, Exporting Quality, and a Safe Product." This gathering, held at the Representation of the Federal State of Hamburg in Berlin on February 5, 2025, brought together key stakeholders from the sector to address the main challenges and opportunities in international banana trade.
Organized by the Ambassador of Colombia to Germany, Yadir Salazar, and the Ambassador of Ecuador to Germany, Diego Morejón, along with the commercial offices ProEcuador and ProColombia, Banana Connect established a strategic dialogue space for strengthening the industry. During the event, essential topics were discussed, such as sustainability in the supply chain, port security, and the evolution of banana trade in international markets.
"A fundamental part of my mission as a representative of the Colombian Government and the Colombian nation is to promote and create scenarios and channels of cooperation between Colombia and Germany that lead to a fair and equitable relationship in this sector and translate into an increase in trade exchange, as well as the development of key areas such as technological innovation, organic production, and greater international competitiveness. Strategic scenarios like this one strengthen joint work with Germany and the opportunities for transformation, based on our enormous potential in biodiversity and agro-industrial development." Yadir Salazar, Ambassador of Colombia to the Federal Republic of Germany.
"Our commitment as the representative of the Ecuadorian Government in Germany is to strengthen cooperation through dialogue and collaboration spaces like this one, which aim to promote a fairer, safer, and more sustainable trade. We seek to generate opportunities for the growth of key export sectors such as bananas, through shared responsibility, in the face of common challenges like security and the pursuit of sustainability. Collaboration between our regions is key to addressing these challenges, and we look forward to continuing to work in this direction." Diego Morejón Pazmiño, Ambassador of Ecuador to the Federal Republic of Germany.
The moderation was led by international journalist Thomas Sparrow, who guided conversations between industry leaders and experts from key sectors. The participation of representatives from the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, along with representatives from REWE Group and the Latin American Business Association (LAV), reaffirmed the importance of collaboration between producing countries and European markets.
"Our message from Ecuador is that there must be coherence, considering fair prices that support sustainable and high-quality production; homologation processes that reduce the excessive administrative burden caused by duplicative certifications; and shared responsibility in addressing challenges in the European market, which are part of the sustainability and security agenda. The sector is investing large amounts of money to improve the security of banana exports in the face of a transnational problem. We need a response from shared responsibility in Europe that addresses the root cause of the issue, a public health problem, and thereby reduce unilateral pressure on the producer." José Antonio Hidalgo, Coordinator of the Banana Cluster of Ecuador.
"This is a call to action to build a more sustainable and secure trade, which will allow us to guarantee its stability. It is essential that all actors in the value chain work together, which is why the Colombian banana sector reiterates the importance of greater recognition for producers who have made significant investments to ensure sustainable production, a greater commitment from buyers to prioritize the acquisition of products with high standards, and more international collaboration on security to strengthen agreements that protect the supply chain. Colombia doesn't just export bananas; it exports commitment, quality, and sustainability." Emerson Aguirre, President of the Banana Growers Association of Colombia.
This meeting not only served to share perspectives on the export and sustainable trade of bananas but also to establish joint strategies that drive competitiveness and security in the sector. The alliance between the Banana Cluster of Ecuador and AUGURA reflects Ecuador and Colombia's commitment to the quality and sustainability of their flagship product in global markets.
