DILI, 06 July 2023 (TATOLI)—ACELDA Company exported 1,520 liters of Candlenut Oil, one of Timor-Leste’s organic products to Jedward Company in Boston city in the United States.
Director of ACELDA, Higino da Costa Freitas said the total export was eight drums, each drum containing 190 liters of organic candlenut oil produced by ACELDA, totaling 1,520 liters of candlenut oil with a selling price of $9,120.
“Normally one metal drum contains 200 liters but only 190 liters are filled for each drum according to the request from the importing company (Jedwards International). For the express price, we give $ 6 for each liter” Higinio Freitas at the Tjing Fa Ho Aimetilaran warehouse, this Thursday.
To ensure the quality of candlenut oil products, ACELDA has conducted sample testing at Sucofindo Company in Indonesia. In addition, Jedwards Company in Boston America asked twice for samples of hazelnut oil to test its products’ quality.
Higinio Freitas plans to ship 80 more drums of organic hazelnut oil to Jedwards International America next year if the first shipment yields positive results.
He explained the negotiation process for exports was carried out in 2018 with the support of USAID, CRS, Trade Invest, the Customs Authority, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Forestry (MoALFF), and will only be realized in 2023.
“This is their support so that today it can be launched, this process is challenging, since 2018 we have tried to meet the standard criteria given by companies in America until finally today we can export this hazelnut oil,” he said
Country Manager for CRS (Catholic Relief Services) in Timor-Leste, Yane Tamonob Pinto, said that so far CRS has provided training and supported the provision of information and promotion at ACELDA so that its products can be better known.
“This promotion is essential because now it’s modern on the market website, many use social networks, but we admit that there are problems with internet connections,” she said.
Likewise, Promotion and Export Director of TradeInvest, Decio Ribeiro Sarmento revealed the offer that has been facilitating ACELDA since 2016 by holding an exhibition in Macau to find an importing company.
“Since then ACELDA started to build connections and in 2018, we tried to negotiate with a company from the United States Jedwards,” he wrote.
Representatives of agencies from both countries have witnessed the security and safety of containers of Organic Candlenut oil produced by the local company ACELDA.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Forestry (MoALFF) especially at the Directorate of National Quarantine, and representatives of the United States Embassy in Timor-Leste participated in the inauguration.
Journalist: José Belarmino De Sá
Editor: Nelia B.
