SA PAVILION IS CROWNED THE BEST AT WORLD FOOD EXHIBITION

SA PAVILION IS CROWNED THE BEST AT WORLD FOOD EXHIBITION

By BRIAN KAJENGO

The South African National Pavilion has won the best stand award at the World Food Moscow Exhibition taking place in Moscow from 15 to 18 September 2014. The Pavilion, led by the dti, has 21 South African companies exhibiting food and beverage products ranging from grains, rooibos tea, canned fruits and vegetables, fresh produce and wine. 

Government through the dti’s Export Marketing and Investment Assistance (EMIA) scheme assisted the 21 South African companies’ that participated.

World Food Moscow Exhibition is the largest most important food and beverage exhibitions in Russia and has over the last two decades become a leading international exhibition for products. The event regarded as the most comprehensive and important marketing platform of the food industry as it attracts over 1600 exhibitors from 68 countries and has over 30 national pavilions. It also attracts around 27 000 trade and retail visitors from 79 regions of Russia and 87 other countries mainly in Europe and Asia.

South Africa’s Ambassador to Russia, Mandisi Mpahlwa highlighted the visible annual increased visibility of South Africa at the World Food Moscow and added that this further strengthens the bilateral trade relations between the two countries.

“Russia is a member of the BRICS and our participation is important as it is in line with the spirit of promoting the intra BRCIS trade. This further builds on the recent visit by President Zuma to Russia in August with aim of boosting South Africa’s exports of agricultural products to Russia”, said Ambassador Mphahlwa

The Executive Director of Fresh Produce Export Forum (FEPF), Mr Anton Kruger said the presence of South Africa at the event is crucial for SA suppliers in the Russian market.

“The country needs to utilise its membership of BRICS grow and diversify its exports to Russia. The 2014 event also saw an increased interest of SA products due to the current sanctions against competing supplies from European Union, USA, Australia, Canada and Norway”, he said.

Mr Baldomero Canalejo of Sea Harvest South Africa said South Africa offers very high quality products in comparison to other foreign suppliers to the Russian market. He is positive of starting shipments to Russia towards the end of the year, after the possible lifting of ban on SA sea food imports by Russia.

The Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies says South Africa’s exports to Russia shows a positive sign as they grew by 11 percent between 2012 and 2013.

“Some of our exports commodities to Russia that we have seen them they include amongst others: Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or melons grew at 36%, Beverages, spirits and vinegar grew at 51, Preparations of vegetables and fruit grew at 30% and lastly agriculture commodities grew by 114%,” said Davies.

According to Davies the attendance of South Africa’s Agro processing companies at World Food Moscow Exhibition is part of our strategy to diversify exports to high growth market.

the dti will be taking targeted missions to the Russian Federation in the agro processing sector.  Interested South African companies should contact Ms Zanele Sanni: 012 3945909 or zsanni@thedti.gov.za