PRETORIA\u2014 A business delegation comprising 16 South African agro-processing companies, including the South African Fruit and Vegetables Canners Export Council (SAFVEC), will showcase their products at the Gulfood exhibition in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), on Feb 20-24.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The companies\u2019 participation has been funded by the Department of Trade Industry and Competition (the dtic) through its Export Marketing and Investment Assistance Scheme.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The scheme aims to develop export markets for South African products and services, and to recruit new foreign direct investment into the country. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Gulfood is regarded as the largest food and beverage trade exhibition in the Middle East. It attracts a large number of participants from the Middle East and the world at large.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Gulfood 2023 will showcase food and beverage products from around the world. South Africa will participate in the Fine Food Pavilion, which will be showcasing agro-processing products and services, as well as in the beverages hall.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The Middle East continues to experience a population growth, translating into increasing opportunities for the agro-processing sector, with a market demand of $3 trillion.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
According to the Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Fikile Majola, South Africa\u2019s participation is expected to positively influence export sales from the South African agri-food industry, food retail and value-added agro-processing products.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
In 2020, export sales generated by the South African companies at Gulfood were worth more than R221 million.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cThe show is expected to expose South African companies to available opportunities in the UAE, as well as creating awareness for South African products in the Middle East in general.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cSouth Africa\u2019s participation in the Dubai Expo 2020, which was part of our efforts to revive the economy and create opportunities for inclusive growth, paved a way for more trade opportunities like the Gulfood, which offers a follow-through opportunity for South African firms,\u201d Majola said.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The UAE remains the main destination for South African goods, as reflected by consistent increase of exports.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Over the past 10 years, SA\u2019s exports to the UAE grew by 20.87% to reach R33.73 billion in 2021, from R8.50 billion in 2012.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Source: Nam News Network<\/p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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