A 20-member South African business delegation departed for Mozambique on Saturday where their companies will showcase their products and services in the 53rd Maputo International Trade Fair, commonly known as FACIM, from August 28 to September 3.
FACIM is an international multi-sectoral trade fair held annually to showcase Mozambique as an attractive destination for trade and investment, the trade and industry department (dti) said in a statement.
The participation of the South African companies in the exhibition is funded by the dti through its export marketing and investment assistance (EMIA) scheme with the aim of increasing exports of South African manufactured products to Mozambique. The objective of the scheme is to develop export markets for South African products and services and to recruit new foreign direct investment into the country.
Port Elizabeth-based Fred Footwear managing executive Ronald Eboru said his company was on a mission to explore opportunities in Southern Africa with the aim of exporting their products to several countries in the region.
“Our mission for going to Mozambique is two-fold. We want to gain knowledge and insight into the market in the country and thereafter sit down and develop a strategy for converting the market knowledge into business,” Eboru said.
Durban-based Tekweni Foods managing director George Fletcher said participating in the trade fair would provide his company with an opportunity to search for export opportunities in Mozambique and neighbouring countries.
“We are optimistic that our products will attract the attention of business people who will be visiting the exhibition. But we are specifically targeting supermarkets, wholesalers, retailers, and distribution agents so that we can negotiate long-term deals that can result in us exporting our products to Mozambique and other countries,” Fletcher said.
Cape Town-based TruPVC Products marketing director Irerio Bero said travelling to Mozambique and exhibiting at FACIM was part of his company’s efforts to increase its footprint in the Southern Africa region.
“FACIM will afford us an opportunity to explore business opportunities in Mozambique in order to expand the market for our products. We are looking beyond Mozambique because of the fact that it is an international trade fair that attracts exhibitors and visitors from various parts of the world,” Bero said.
Tawanda Water Initiative business development director Peter Malebana said he was optimistic that his company’s waste and drinking water management solutions would catch the eye of Mozambicans and other visitors to the exhibition.
“Our participation in FACIM will provide us with the perfect platform to introduce our services and products to hotel groups, property developers, estates, and municipalities. These are the people who will benefit most from our waste water treatment plants which will enable them to recover 95 percent of their waste water for reuse. We are also targeting the Mozambican farming community with the aim of supplying them with water tanks,” Malebana said.
According to Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies, FACIM would expose South African companies to trade and investment opportunities available in Mozambique and other countries participating in the exhibition.
