Pretoria - South Africa will show off its boat manufacturing capabilities with five local companies set to participate in the Korea International Boat Show, in Goyang, South Korea.
The companies will exhibit boat models, engines and engine systems, marine equipment and accessories, and related engineering and manufacturing services in a National Pavilion that will be managed by the Department of Trade and Industry (dti).
“The assistance that the dti is providing to the companies that will be exhibiting in South Korea underscores the department’s commitment to providing opportunities and opening up export markets in different parts of the world for our businesspeople in various sectors of the economy to explore.
“The exhibition will expose South African companies to export opportunities and will be a good platform to promote the South African boat-building and associated industry offerings,” said dti Minister Rob Davies.
The five companies together with an industry association will partake in the popular show that kicks off on Thursday.
The show, which has become the third largest boating show in Asia after Dubai and China, presents a good platform to position the country’s boating industry and related offerings and to capture the emerging market share in the South Korean and Asian marine leisure markets.
Last year, more than 30 000 people visited the exhibition stands of 446 companies from various parts of the world who participated in the show.
Davies said the show will also expose South African exhibitors to potential customers and opportunities in the boat-building industry and associated market. It will offer exhibitors an opportunity to engage with industry leaders and stakeholders from different parts of the world.
South Korea has been the world's leading ship-building nation for the past decade. South African exports in the boat building and associated industries sector to South Korea have totalled R3 billion from 2008 to 2011.
Trade in sail boats that include yachts and vessels for pleasure increased by 15% from R670 million in 2010 to R770 million in 2011. Exports of tugs and pusher crafts increased from R11 million in 2010 to R16 million in 2011.
“This year will be South Africa’s second participation in the show. We are optimistic that it will go a long way in consolidating South Africa’s image in the region as a world-renowned industry player in the boating market and achieve further market penetration into the region and beyond,” said Minister Davies.
The companies’ participation in the show has been made possible by the dti’s Export Marketing and Investment Assistance (EMIA) scheme which lists one of its objectives as the development of new export markets for South African products and services.
The boat show will end on Sunday. - SAnews.gov.za
