Minister Rob Davies to meet representatives of food processing companies in Cape Town
The Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies will host a bi-annual meeting with senior management from the food processing companies at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Bellville Campus, in Cape Town tomorrow, 7 March 2014 from 10h30.
The purpose of the meeting is to share views, discuss and propose possible interventions on a variety of matters pertinent to the agro-processing sector.
Minister Davies says as a long term measure, the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) will continuously seek to draw expertise from industry stakeholders in specific sectors in an effort to create jobs and thus alleviate poverty.
"South Africa's agro-processing sector has the potential to become an industrial impetus that can create jobs and answer some of the macro-economic questions such as trade deficit generated by too much imports against low export volumes," said Davies.
He added that the dti has over the years supported the food processing sector through a number of investment initiatives to remain competitive in the market.
In 2008, Minister Davies together with the senior management of food processing companies in South Africa agreed to the formation of a platform that would allow the sector and government to engage on various issues.
Enquiries:
Sidwell Medupe, Departmental Spokesperson
Cell: 079 492 1774
Tel: 012 394 1650
E-mail: MSMedupe@thedti.gov.za
Twitter: @the_dti
