A meat and apple farmer from Senekal in the Free State has joined a delegation of about 40 South African business people who will be departing to Nigeria on an Outward Selling and Investment Mission organised by the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) from 2 to 6 December 2013.
Mr Pitso Sekhoto of Makolobane Farmers Enterprises says he is very excited to be going to Nigeria as he is in search of opportunities to expand his business to that market.
Nigeria is considered as one of South Africa's most important partners on the African continent and because of its large population and natural resources, the country has become South Africa’s most important trading partner on the continent.
“We have been planning to go to Nigeria for a long time to try and infiltrate this market as we have identified a need to contribute to developing the quality of meat in Nigeria. We already have potential partners lined up whom we will be meeting as part of this mission and we hope that this will open opportunities for us,” says Sekhoto.
Sekhoto adds that his plans are to open a feedlot and an abattoir, and also to establish outlets to distribute the meat in Nigeria.
The Outward Selling and Investment Mission is part of the dti‘s Export and Investment Promotion Strategy that focuses on targeted high growth markets with the objective of creating investment and export opportunities for South African companies and of promoting South Africa as a trade and investment destination.
The mission will be led by the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Ms Elizabeth Thabethe and will focus on the sectors of agro-processing, mining and capital equipment, engineering, chemicals, renewable energy and Information and Communication Technology (ICT). As part of the programme, the South African business people will get an opportunity to participate in trade and investment seminars, business-to-business meetings and visit several business sites to see how Nigerians operate their businesses.
Enquiries:
Sidwell Medupe
Departmental Spokesperson
Tel: 012 394 1650
Cell: 079 492 1774
E-mail: MSMedupe@thedti.gov.za
Follow us on Twitter: @the_dti
