The City of Johannesburg (CoJ) today (Wednesday) launched its strategy to establish itself as a food manufacturing and agro-processing hub in partnership with two Johannesburg-based exhibitions, Africa’s Big Seven (AB7) and the Southern African International Trade Exhibition (Saitex).
Director of trade and investment promotion for the CoJ, Reginald Pholo, said the two co-located expos were key drivers for the City of Jo’burg’s food and agro-processing strategy, which was a component of its Joburg 2040 Integrated Development Plan.
“There is a huge need for capacity to transform food into manufactured food. In order to facilitate access to markets, the CoJ is focusing on infrastructure development that includes storage facilities, processing, cold storage and transport. So it’s important to inculcate a culture of food processing, household and national food security and surplus sales to export markets,” Pholo said.
According to Pholo, CoJ will use these annual shows as part of its Exporter Awareness Programme, which showcases the many business opportunities for entrepreneurs.
“This also helps broaden South Africa’s exporter base in the agricultural and agro-processing sectors by developing new and existing exporters,” Pholo said.
For the 2016 shows, the CoJ plans to host a series of export seminars as well as business-to-business matchmaking sessions in the international business lounge at Gallagher Convention Centre.
AB7 and SAITEX take place from 19-21 June at Gallagher Convention Centre.
