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The South Africa companies and agencies that are exhibiting at the 1st China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, in the People’s Republic of China have expressed their satisfaction with the responses they are receiving from potential Chinese clients. South Africa’s current export basket to China consist mainly of minerals and raw materials, hence the CIIE presented us with an opportunity to showcase the diversity of value added products South Africa is able to export to China.

The South African Delegation consisted of a mix of well established companies and Export Councils representing the agro-processing, engineering, chemicals, rail, infrastructure, consumer goods and ICT sectors. The CIIE event also provided us with an opportunity to showcase some of our export ready Black industrialist companies.

The Managing Director of North West-based Ditsogo Project, Ms Tebogo Mosito says that she confident that Chinese market can really open up investment opportunities and also market for them to import their products.  Ditsogo Projects is an engineering company offering services such as metal fabrication, manufacturing of rolling stock conveyors structures, hoppers & chutes, and electrical supplies.

“China International Import Expo is a very great show, already we have managed to secure two clients. There’s a positive feedback from other people who have been visiting our stand. One of the two orders that I received are worth R2-million and I managed to secure them within two days,” said Mosito.

She thanked government and the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) for investing in her business by opening up opportunities for them to trade globally. She added that the dti has enabled her to attend international expos which the company would not have been able to afford.

Elmo Moore of the Paltechnologies, a company that is based in Pretoria, said that their participation at the China International Import Expo was hugely beneficial. The Paltechnologies company manufactures amongst others single and double eccentric butterfly valves, slurry sleeve valves, non return valves and swing check valves.

“People here are interested in our products and they want to trade them between South Africa and the end users in China. There has been a lot of interest from agents who want to distribute our products in China. We will also be working with Beijing Axis to set-up an operation in China. I also met a gentleman here from Standard Bank who is based in Namibia and will introduce me to business partners from that side who will buy our products.  We are currently in a process of setting up refurbishment plant in Ghana because the dti took us to an exhibition called Wampex in June this year and that’s has been the end result of that exhibition,” said Moore.

Thulani Nobela of Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency, indicated that as a province they have also benefitted by participating in the the China International Import Expo. According to Nobela, they have received enquiries mainly on citrus fruit, coal and macadamia products. There were few enquiries on edible oil.  As an agency they will handover these enquiries to the relevant institutions for follow-ups and finalisation. Nobela is positive that these result in trade opportunities as well as investments for the province.

Minister Rob Davies earlier in the week addressed the South African Investment Seminar on the margins of the 1st China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai.  He said exhibitions like the CIIE give South Africa an advantage to display products, goods and services that we can supply the Chinese market. Davies stated that he was hopeful that our exhibitors will be able to find a way to enhance the relationship with procurers from China.

The purpose of the Investment Seminar was to expand on the investment opportunities that exist in South Africa with a particular focus on the manufacturing sector. The seminar was organised jointly by the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) and China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products.

27 South African organisations which include provincial investment agencies, Special Economic Zones, Export Councils, as well as private companies are participating in the China International Import Expo. The delegation is being funded by the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) through the Export Marketing and Investment Assistance (EMIA) Scheme.

Issued by The Department of Trade and Industry