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The Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) will host 23 South African companies in a national pavilion at the Africa Big 7, an internationally-renowned food and beverage trade show that is scheduled to take place at the Gallagher Convention Centre, in Midrand on 23 - 25 June 2019. The companies will showcase their proudly South African-made products during the three-day show.

Africa Big 7 is the annual meeting place for food and beverage professionals across the continent who visit to source, meet and gain insight into the latest developments in the industry. The trade show is the only food and beverage show in Africa and brings together hundreds of global buyers from significant segments of the agro-processing industry’s value chain.

According to the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Ms Nomalungelo Gina, the dti’s national pavilion will showcase local manufacturing capability in order to boost the export of South African products while simultaneously increasing intra-Africa trade. Most importantly, she adds, it will also stimulate discussions on issues impacting the agro-processing sector and promote partnerships and collaborations.

Gina describes the show as an opportunity for South African companies to join over 250 exhibitors from over 45 countries and to fly the South African flag in some niche food and beverage categories such as wines, ginger gemmer, soy products and preserved fruits.
 
“The agro-processing sector is critical to the South African economy and has grown to be one of the largest manufacturing sub-sectors, accounting for about 24% of manufacturing Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 3.3% of South Africa’s total GDP in 2017. In employment terms, agro-processing is the largest contributor to jobs in the manufacturing industry. In 2018, it accounted for approximately 21% of all jobs in the manufacturing industry and 2% of jobs in the entire economy. It is therefore important to use every opportunity to promote, support and grow this sector,” says Gina.
 
The participating companies are funded by the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) through its Export Marketing and Investment Assistance (EMIA) Scheme.
 

Issued by the Department of Trade and Industry