The recently concluded Fruit Logistica Trade Fair has yielded positive outcomes for two local export companies.
Idea Fruit’s Chief Operating Officer, Dumisani Davids, said his company has managed to secure new deals in South East Asia and some parts of Europe.
“We had fruitful engagements with representatives of companies from India, Bangladesh, Malaysia, and Indonesia, who were keen to source fruits from us as soon as the season starts. Bangladeshi representatives want to buy just about everything from us for a new city in the north that is currently being industrialised. We also had some good orders from India and Malaysia,” said Davids on Sunday.
The three-day fair that took place in Berlin, Germany, concluded on Friday, 9 February.
Managing Director of UniChoice, Mr Anton van Zyl said his company received orders from importers based in Canada, Europe, India and the Middle East.
“The best thing about the new orders for our citrus, table grapes, apples, pears, butternut and pumpkin that we received is that they are long-term,” he said.
Both companies, which are based in the Western Cape, received financial support from the Department of Trade and Industry (dti), and are part of the 25 companies that participated in the trade fair.
The Economic Counsellor at the South African Embassy in Berlin, Jacob Moatshe, reiterated that Germany is the most important market for South Africa, especially in the fruits and nuts sector.
He said South African fruits were appealing to the German market.
Over the years, the dti has assisted hundreds of businesses through its Export Marketing and Investment Assistance scheme. The scheme develops export markets for South African products and services.
The trade fair, which got underway on Wednesday, 7 February, covers every sector of the international fruit and vegetable supply chain from production, distribution and marketing, through to the point of sale, including global players, as well as small and medium-sized suppliers from all around the world. - SAnews.gov.za
