SA Companies in Hong Kong on Mission to Boost Access and Knowledge on Global Trends at Fruit Logistica |
| A group of twenty-two South African companies led by the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) has arrived in Hong Kong on a mission to gain market access and acquire knowledge on global trends and innovation within the fresh produce sector when they will be participating at the 2019 Fruit Logistica Asia Trade Show that will be taking place from tomorrow to Friday, 6 September 2019.
Fruit Logistica Asia focuses on the fresh, unprocessed fruit and vegetables produce sector and the related value chain. The trade show also offers the opportunity to establish new business contacts as it brings together key players from all over the world under one roof. Speaking on his industry association’s maiden showing at Fruit Logistica, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Potatoes South Africa, Mr Andre Jooste outlined that their participation is driven by China’s previous hosting of the World Potato Congress in 2015, where potatoes were publicised as the next significant product they were looking to surpass rice with. “That development coupled with the innovations and product developments we witnessed in 2015 were key in informing us that there was still a lot to learn. When the dti presented us with this opportunity to come and showcase this year we saw that as an opportunity to further build on the knowledge and experience that we previously obtained. So it is really truly about learning and being at the forefront of global trends and innovations as far as potatoes are concerned,” says Jooste. He adds that he hopes to build networks, and hopefully connections but most importantly to open up markets for our more than five-hundred producers to export potatoes into the world. Jooste adds that his industry’s best selling point for Fruit Logistica will be the ability to offer a high quality coupled with the backing of five-hundred members that produce in the region of 2.5 million tons of potatoes a year. “We have the capacity to meet the volumes and are one of the few areas in the world that produce potatoes all year round in sixteen different production regions because of our favourable climate. We have determined that export is very important also for our local industry to not only develop markets to the north but to also look at the Middle East and in the long term if there are markets in the Far East,” says Jooste. The South African Pavilion showcasing local fresh produce products and services will officially be launched tomorrow following the official opening of the 2019 Fruit Logistica Asia. The participation of the South African companies at Fruit Logistica forms part of the dti’s Export Promotion Strategy that targets high growth export markets and to support South Africa’s fresh produce sector.
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