Twenty-seven South African food manufacturing companies will be seeking new export opportunities and commercial partnerships in France when they participate in the SIAL Paris International Food Products Exhibition. The exhibition, which started on Saturday, 17 October, is set to run until Wednesday.
The companies are participating with the support of the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC), which will host a South African National Pavilion at the exhibition.
The companies, drawn from six provinces, are showcasing a diverse range of locally manufactured products including processed foods, non-alcoholic beverages, preserved foods, spices, soups, frozen products, cured meats, health and organic products, confectionery, seafood and gourmet food products.
SIAL Paris brings together producers, distributors, restaurateurs, importers, exporters and other international food industry players. South Africa’s participation will provide local companies with an opportunity to showcase their products, engage prospective international buyers and explore new commercial opportunities.
According to the DTIC’s Acting Deputy Director-General of Exports, Willem van der Spuy, South Africa’s participation forms part of the department’s broader efforts to increase exports of value-added products, diversify international markets and support South African companies to establish sustainable export relationships.
“France is an important market in South Africa’s export diversification agenda and a strategic economic partner. Our objective is not simply to showcase South African products, but to use platforms such as SIAL Paris to connect export-ready companies with buyers, importers, distributors and other commercial partners who can assist them to establish and expand their presence in the French and broader European markets,” Van der Spuy said.
He added that the DTIC is placing increased emphasis on targeted business-to-business matchmaking as part of its international export promotion interventions, with the aim of ensuring that participating companies engage with relevant buyers and commercial partners and that opportunities generated through these engagements are followed through after the exhibition.
“We want to strengthen the commercial outcomes from our international engagements. This means increasing targeted B2B matchmaking, generating quality business leads and supporting companies to convert those opportunities into export orders, distribution partnerships and sustainable market relationships,” he said.
He said the department’s support for companies participating in international exhibitions should ultimately contribute to expanding South Africa’s exporter base, growing exports of value-added manufactured products and enabling companies to increase production as they secure new international customers. – https://www.thedtic.gov.za/
