Companies in the agro-processing sector have until 26 September to apply for financial support to participate in the Gulfood Exhibition, which will take place in Dubai in February 2018.
The Department of Trade and Industry (dti) says qualifying South African companies will be assisted through the dti’s Export Marketing and Investment Assistance (EMIA) scheme. The goal is to increase exports of South African products to the Middle East region and beyond.
The objective of the scheme is to develop export markets for South African products and services and to recruit new foreign direct investment into the country.
Deputy Trade and Industry Minister Bulelani Magwanishe said participating in the fair will give South African companies an opportunity to showcase their products and services in order to gain access to the multibillion rand Middle East food and beverage market.
“One of our objectives as a department is to promote South African value-added goods and services all over the world by broadening the export base, increasing market share in targeted high growth markets and sustaining market share in traditional markets.
“To achieve this objective, we have developed an integrated National Export Strategy with the aim of increasing the demand for South African goods and services through market diversification. This will ensure that our exports grow, and new markets and export products are developed,” said Deputy Minister Magwanishe.
The dti offers the following financial support to qualifying firms:
- Air travel assistance up to R17 000 (SMME and BOEs only);
- Daily subsistence allowance of R3 000 per day (SMME and BOEs only);
- Freight forwarding of display material, and
- Exhibition space and booth rental costs.
For more information, companies can visit the website: www.gulfood.com.
The annual exhibition, which boasts a well-established reputation as the world’s largest annual food and beverage fair in the region, brings together exporters, importers, distributors, retailers, wholesalers, food producers and restaurateurs from more than 100 countries. Almost 100 000 visitors attend the show annually.
Last year, the dti supported 35 companies who participated in the exhibition. The companies generated export sales valued at more than R220 million.
Application forms and guidelines can be downloaded via the dti website at www.thedti.gov.za/trade_investment/emia_national_pavilions.jsp. – SAnews.gov.za
