Premier Makhura and MEC Maile to address participants at inaugural Gauteng Agri-Food Festival

12th October 2017

Gauteng Premier David Makhura, along with MEC of Economic Development, Environment, Agriculture and Rural Development Lebogang Maile, will address the inaugural Gauteng Agri-Food Festival tomorrow Friday 13 October 2017, starting at 9h00am, Tshwane Showgrounds, FW Nkomo (previously known as Soutter Street) Street, Pretoria West Tshwane, Gauteng province.

Speaking ahead of the festival, MEC Maile said; “The Gauteng Government is thrilled not only by hosting this event, but it also has a symbolic meaning and befitting way to honour and celebrate Tambo’s immeasurable life and legacy in hosting such a magnificent event to showcase our province’s capabilities in Food Production”.

The Festival will bring together small and emerging farmers, entrepreneurs, banking and retail sector representatives to share knowledge and skills on issues related to Agro-processing sector. A number of opinion-makers; policy-decision makers; business leaders and labour are expected to share useful insights on various issues. The festival seeks to promote innovation, establish local food markets exchange information and acquaint participants with food production value chain, but more than anything, the event is all about enjoying good and healthy food.

The Festival creates an enabling platform for government, private sector, farmers; food processors; food service entrepreneurs; service providers in the agri-food value chain to showcase agricultural and food manufacturing capabilities around the province’s agricultural competitive and comparative advantage through the value chain.

In attendance there will be big retailers, emerging farmers exhibiting their various and diverse culinary reflecting of South Africa food heritage. People are invited to attend so that they may gain new knowledge on opportunities in the agro-processing sector.

This initiative is consistent with the radical economic transformation policy objective whose commitment is to ensure that we remove sectorial bottlenecks and create conducive environment for our people participate in the economy. Agro-processing sector is a highly concentrated with high barriers of entry making it difficult for Black to participate even though this is a sector that interface with every household.

Leading South African artist will be performing on the last leg of the Festival on Saturday 14 October 2017, for public, no charge fee for attending.

The details are as follows:
DATE: Friday 13 October 2017
TIME: 08H30 for 9H00am
VENUE: Tshwane Showgrounds, FW Nkomo (previously known as Soutter Str)  Street, Pretoria West, Tshwane

Members of the media are hereby invited to attend and report.

Contact:
Castro Ngobese
Spokesperson for MEC of Economic Development, Environment, Agriculture and Rural Development
Mobile: 060 870 1806
Email: castro.ngobese@gauteng.gov.za