The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Nomalungelo Gina, officially opened the South African Pavilion at the second China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai on Wednesday – with more than twenty South African companies and associations to showcase local products to Chinese markets.
Products such as jewellery, olives, Rooibos and honey bush tea, wines, avocados, raisins, plywood pine and sawn timber pine will be on display at the import expo this year, which is set to conclude on 10 November.
Speaking at the ribbon cutting ceremony of the pavilion on Wednesday, Gina said this is the perfect opportunity for South African companies to infiltrate the vast Chinese markets.
“This is the platform that will enable us to tap into the trillions of rand that the Chinese market is opening to us,” said Gina.
“The expo is also an opportunity for us to attract investors to come to our country. We are confident that the proudly South African products that we have brought will grab the attention of the Chinese international buyers and importers.”
The South African and Chinese governments participated in successful bilateral discussions this past weekend, with Gina thanking the Chinese government for providing South African companies with this platform to exhibit their products
“The Chinese government has already indicated its willingness to open their market for us as this expo is an invitation to show the Chinese companies what they can source from South Africa,” she concluded.
