SA Businesspeople Jet Off to Russia to Showcase Products |
| More than thirty South African businesspeople from five provinces jet off to Russia this weekend to showcase their products at the annual World Food Moscow International Exhibition from 24-27 September 2019. Their trip is funded by the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) with the objective of assisting the companies find a market in Russia for their products or expand their presence in the country.
The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Ms Nomalungelo Gina has described the popular international exhibition as the ideal platform for South Africa to showcase the country’s food and drink products to international wholesalers, distributors, retailers and restaurateurs. The Head of Marketing and Sales at Fruits du Sud, Ms Tanya Alston, says the Northern Cape-based company is determined to expand its market in Russia where its raisins are already being exported to. “We want to develop and grow our market in Russia for our golden raisins as we have realised that there is an opportunity for us to increase the volume of the raisins that we are exporting to that country. World Food Moscow provides us with an opportunity to achieve this objective. We will be specifically targeting wholesalers and bakeries from Russia and other parts of the world who will be at the exhibition. We are optimistic that the trip will be fruitful,” says Alston. She adds that her company, which employees 175 people, already exports 95% of its raisins to forty countries across the globe. These include Canada, Japan, Algeria, United States of America and the whole of Europe. The Director of the Pietermaritzburg-based Royalty Agri-Biz Ms Fatima Cele says participating in World Food Moscow will provide her company with exciting prospects of breaking into the international market. “It will be for the first time that we are participating in an international trade exhibition. On our side we are really to start playing on the international market. Participating in this exhibition will enable us to test if the international market is ready for our products. We are going there to test the market and see how it will respond to our products which consists of a range of honey-based cordial drinks,” says Cele. She adds that the trip will also enable her to network with other businesspeople from around the globe, and to learn more about other similar products on the international market. “The cherry on top for us will be finding an agent who can be able to help us introduce our products to the Russian market or anywhere in the world, so that we can start exporting,” adds Cele. The Chief Executive Officer of the Lefakong Farming, which is based at the Bosplaas Village in the North West, Ms Maboang Matlou, says she is looking forward to the mission as it will give her company an opportunity to showcase its moringa products at an international platform. It will also enable them to introduce the benefits of moringa to an international audience that will include businesspeople and buyers from across the globe. “We are particularly targeting the Russian market as we are aware that there is very little availability and awareness of moringa in the country. I have already received an invitation from a Russia-based organic food company that has shown interest in our products,” says Matlou. Enquiries: |
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