South Africa’s Trade and Industry representative Thulani Mpetsheni has urged local companies to put their best foot forward at the SIAL China International Trade Fair for Food that gets underway today.
This as a group of 23 local companies led by the Department of Trade and Industry (dti) are in Shanghai to participate in the largest annual Asian food fair.
“I look forward to seeing our businesspeople putting a good showing, profiling the best that South Africa has to offer the world at our pavilion and making an exceptional impression on the expected 110 000 visitors, importers, distributors, retailers and food service caterers that are anticipated to attend this year’s expo,” said Mpetsheni who is South Africa’s Trade and Industry Foreign Economic Representative in Shanghai.
Mpetsheni told the companies that the Chinese market is fast-evolving and abundant with opportunities for South African companies.
“The Chinese market offers our businesses with a natural point of entry into Asia, as well as direct access to a rapidly changing domestic market due to its population of more than one billion inhabitants and a continuous rise of its Gross Domestic Product of up to 10% per year on average.”
“In all the SIAL Expos that I have had the benefit of overseeing this appears as one with the fiercest competition. Our wines which are well-regarded in this area face stiff competition from the Argentinians and French manufacturers,” he said.
The 19th edition of the SIAL China International Trade Fair for Food kicked off today with the participation of the South African delegation with expertise in the agro-processing sector.
The SIAL China International Trade Fair for Food hosted under the theme Inspire Food Business will see over 3 400 exhibitors from Asia, the Americas, Europe and Africa exhibiting their wares.
The trade fair, which will conclude on Friday, is a leading platform for international producers and manufacturers of food products, wines, spirits and food service equipment. – SAnews.gov.za
