PRETORIA, February 19 (ANA) – Exporters of fresh fruit and vegetables are invited to apply for assistance to participate in the upcoming Fruit Logistica Asia 2017 trade exhibition in Hong Kong from September 6 to 8, the trade and industry department (dti) said on Sunday.
Companies interested in participating in the exhibition were encouraged to submit application forms to the dti by April 6, the department said in a statement.
“The trade fair, which will be attended by exhibitors from over 120 countries around the world, is targeting producers of fresh fruit and vegetables, fresh-cut and convenience items, exotic products, organic produce, potatoes, dried fruit or nuts, herbs and spices, as well as flowers or plants for self-service outlets, among others,” it said.
Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies said participating in the exhibition would not only expose South African companies to the Asian market, but would also provide an opportunity for South Africa to showcase its agricultural and value-added products.
This was part of the dti’s strategy to increase exports and create and identify export markets for South African agricultural and value-added products and services in Asia.
“China and South Africa have signed the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement (CSPA) to promote trade in value-added manufactured products as well as investment in the manufacturing sector in an effort to advance industrialisation. This initiative is undertaken as part of the implementation of the CSPA to expose South African products to the Asian market,” Davies said.
To ensure that South African products penetrated the market, the dti would ensure that participating companies did not only showcase their products but had the capacity to timeously supply any export orders arising out of the visit.
Participating companies would be assisted through the dti’s export marketing and investment assistance scheme. It offered airfare, payment of exhibition space, freight forwarding of exhibition material to the exhibition and back to South Africa, as well as a daily subsistence allowance up to a pre-determined maximum amount, Davies said.
– African News Agency (ANA)
