SA business delegation departs for Russia to showcase products and services
A 20-member South African business delegation will today depart our shores bound for Russia where they will be showcasing their products and services at the 2017 World Food Moscow International Food Exhibition that is scheduled to take place from 11-14 September 2017.
The participation of the South African companies in the exhibition is funded by the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) through its Export Marketing and Investment Assistance (EMIA) scheme with the aim of increasing exports of South African manufactured products to Russia. The objective of the scheme is to nurture export markets for South African products and services and to recruit new foreign direct investment into the country.
The Managing Director of Thandi Wines, Mr Vernon Henn says his company is on a mission to explore opportunities in Russia and beyond since the exhibition attracts international clients from diverse markets.
“The World Food Moscow International Food Exhibition will present us with opportunities whereby we will be in a position to acquire distributors for our wines and form partnerships that will allow our company to obtain new business and infiltrate new markets,” says Henn.
The Managing Director of the Mpumalanga-based JAB Dried Fruit Products, Mr Corne Barnard says he is optimistic that his products are destined to make a positive impact at the exhibition.
“We are ideally looking at having our products marketed to Russian retailers and wholesalers and are looking at exporting one container per week to the country and use this platform as a stepping stone towards our goal,” says Barnard.
Barnard adds that this opportunity provided by the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) to take part at the international exhibition will open more doors for his company. He adds that the company is currently exporting to the United States of America, Germany, The Netherlands and Israel. Exploiting the Russian market would mean creation of more jobs by the company, he adds.
The Managing Director of Continental Biscuits, Mr Luis Murillo says that he is keen to penetrate the Russian market and he believes that showcasing at World Food will be a gateway to the Russian market.
“Showcasing at this massive exhibition will serve as an indicator on how receptive the Russian market will be to our products. We have a wide range of products from sweet and savoury biscuit, assortments, sandwich creams, wafers and chocolate enrobed products and we trust that it is within this wide range we would find suitable products that will soon reach the Russian market,” says Murillo.
According to the Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies, the objective of the South African participation in the exhibition is to promote South Africa’s agro-processing industry in order to consolidate and establish market presence of South Africa in Russia. He adds that this will also generate greater returns for the South African agro-processing and related industries at the show and within the Russian market in alignment to the dti’s Market Diversification Strategy.
Enquiries:
Sidwell Medupe
Tel: 012 394 1650
Cell: 079 492 1774
E-mail: MSMedupe@thedti.gov.za
