SA businesspeople conclude Japan Exhibition on a high note

The South African food products and beverages that were showcased at the 44th FOODEX exhibition in Chiba, Japan generated impressive interest amongst international traders. The 30 businesspeople who were supported by the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) to showcase their products and beverages at the exhibition are excited about the trade leads they acquired from international traders. The week-long exhibition, which was dedicated to food and drinks, ended yesterday.

Statistics from the exhibition indicate that more than 6 500 people visited the South African pavilion resulting in 783 trade leads for the South African companies from international traders who showed keen interest in importing the South African products.

The Export Marketer at Fruits Du Sud, Ms Tania Alston says the show was excellent and will boost their objective of increasing their market share in Japan and rest of the Asian market. As a result of her participation in the exhibition, Tania says she met very promising clients for her sun dried raisins.

Mr Peter Foulis from Naturezone is also impressed by the amazing experience at the show. He says he met solid contacts from countries such as Mexico, Korea, China, Japan and America which he says could see the company exporting the products in the near future.

“The interest in our herbal iced tea and craft mixers was phenomenal,” says Foulis.

The Key Account Manager at CapeHerb Spices, Ms Kathryn Van Der Walt says she participated in FOODEX with an intention of solidifying relationships with the current customers and getting new businesses. She pronounced that the show was good as she secured positive meetings with the current customers and potential new customers.

”The show yielded positive results as the forum did not only receive enquiries from Japan, but from South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and China as well. It is important to create more awareness about South Africa as a fruit production and export country of high-quality fruits,” says the Chief Executive Officer of the Fresh Produce Exporters Forum, Mr Anton Kruger.

FOODEX is Asia’s largest exhibition dedicated to food and drink across Japan and the whole world. The exhibition takes place over a period of four days and attracts about thousands of buyers from the food service value chain, distribution networks and trading companies from across the Asia region and globally.

The show consisted of 1 360 exhibitors from 38 countries representing 14 sectors,

Enquiries:
Sidwell Medupe-Departmental Spokesperson
Tel: (012) 394 1650
Mobile: 079 492 1774
E-mail: MSMedupe@thedti.gov.za
Issued by: The Department of Trade and Industry
Follow us on Twitter: @the_dti

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