This was during a recent meeting between Cornaro and Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies, as well as Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Senzeni Zokwana.

The meeting dealt broadly with the Economic Partnership Agreement between the EU and the Southern African Development Community. However, according to a statement, poultry sector challenges also featured prominently.

Cornaro said the Ministers of the EU is of the view that the current crisis is caused more by the structural challenges affecting the poultry industry rather than by EU imports. He also expressed the EU's support in the restructuring of the industry and mentioned the pursuit of export opportunities.

The meeting comes in the midst of massive issues within the poultry industry, including job losses, farm closures and public protests. 

Davies and Zokwana also emphasised to Cornaro the importance of the poultry sector to rural development and the revitalisation of Agriculture and the Agro-processing value-chain.

Source: Statement