JOHANNESBURG, September 8 (ANA) – A 20-member South African business delegation departs Friday bound for Russia, where they will be showcasing their products and services at the 2017 World Food Moscow International Food Exhibition.
The exhibition takes place next week from Monday to Thursday, 11-14 September 2017.
“Participation of the South African companies in the exhibition is funded by the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) through its Export Marketing and Investment Assistance (EMIA) scheme with the aim of increasing exports of South African manufactured products to Russia,” said the dti in a communique issued on its behalf by Government Communications and Information System.
“The objective of the scheme is to nurture export markets for South African products and services and to recruit new foreign direct investment into the country.”
Managing Director of Thandi Wines, Vernon Henn said his company was on a mission to explore opportunities in Russia and beyond since the exhibition attracts international clients from diverse markets.
“The World Food Moscow International Food Exhibition will present us with opportunities whereby we will be in a position to acquire distributors for our wines and form partnerships that will allow our company to obtain new business and infiltrate new markets,” said Henn.
Managing Director of the Mpumalanga-based JAB Dried Fruit Products Corne Barnard said: “We are ideally looking at having our products marketed to Russian retailers and wholesalers and are looking at exporting one container per week to the country and use this platform as a stepping stone towards our goal”.
Managing Director of Continental Biscuits Luis Murillo said: “Showcasing at this massive exhibition will serve as an indicator of how receptive the Russian market will be to our products. We have a wide range of products from sweet and savoury biscuit, assortments, sandwich creams, wafers and chocolate enrobed products and we trust that it is within this wide range we would find suitable products that will soon reach the Russian market”.
Dti Minister Dr. Rob Davies said the objective of the South African participation in the exhibition is to promote South Africa’s agro-processing industry in order to consolidate and establish market presence of South Africa in Russia.
He said this market can generate greater returns for the South African agro-processing and related industries at the show and within the Russian market in alignment to the dti’s Market Diversification Strategy.
– African News Agency (ANA)
