Export seminars in South Africa

1/21/2011

Open Trade Gate made a one week tour of South Africa in late November 2010, visiting Limpopo, Eastern Cape and Western Cape provinces in order to co-host three ’Export to Sweden’ seminars. The seminars were focused on fruit exports from South Africa to Sweden, and form part of a three step programme planned for 2010-2012.

Ms Bongiswa Matoti, Department of Agriculture, talking at the seminar in Stellenbosch

The seminars in South Africa were planned and conducted in collaboration with Department for Trade and Industry (DTI), Fresh Produce Exporters Forum (FPEF), Department for Agriculture, South Africa’s Embassy to Sweden, Sweden’s Embassy to South Africa, Swedish Chambers and Grolink. A South African company with experience of exporting to Sweden and the EU made a presentation at each seminar, providing valuable insights into the possibilities and challenges related to trading with Europe. During the week, the delegation also took the opportunity to visit a few companies, both in Port Elizabeth and in Cape Town.



The delegation during a company visit in Port Elizabeth

The first seminar took place on 22nd November in Tzaneen, Limpopo Province. Some 70 emerging farmers, exporters, extension officers and officials attended, and following a morning of presentations and discussions on a more general level, the afternoon session concentrated on product specific information on exports of lemons, grapefruits and oranges. A presentation about organic production and exports was also made.

Citrus Research International, which participated actively in the discussions during the day, raised the issue of Black Spot Disease. Fruits infected with the fungus that causes the disease is prohibited in the EU, which makes exporting organic citrus to this market impossible. Another central issue was the relationship between farmers and exporters and/or pack houses. FPEF stressed the importance of engaging with registered exporters in order to minimise the risk of disappointments and problems. 


Mr. Max Lundgren, Swedish Chambers, presenting the Swedish market

The second seminar was held in Grahamstown, Eastern Province, on 24 November. The seminar was attended by some 60 participants, and similar to the seminar in Tzaneen, the afternoon was dedicated to product specific information about lemons, grapefruits and oranges. A central issue that was discussed during the seminar was whether emerging farmers wished to become exporters themselves, or continue selling to exporters and pack houses.



Mr. Gordon Gleimius, DTI, and Ms. Junette Davids, FPEF, during a preparatory meeting with the Department of Agriculture in Grahamstown 

The third seminar took place in Stellenbosch, Western Cape Province, on 26 November. The seminar, which had some 30 participants, focused on grapes, pome fruits and plums. A strong focus in the discussions was on transportation and the possibilities to export directly to Sweden. A large share of South African fruit exports go via Rotterdam, from where it is sold and distributed to other EU Member States, while many exporters would prefer to sell directly to these countries. In the case of Sweden, the economic viability of shipping directly varies from fruit to fruit, depending on the durability of these fruits.



Ms Kathy O’Grady and Stuart Symington from FPEF at the seminar in Stellenbosch

Ms. Johanna Lind from Sweden’s Embassy in Pretoria

As a second step, these seminars will be followed up with an outward selling mission, where a delegation of emerging farmers and exporters from South Africa will visit Sweden to meet with importers and different stakeholders. The third step of the programme will be an inward buying mission, where Swedish importers visit South Africa to meet with farmers and exporters in order to see production sites and distribution centres. The Swedish Chambers will play an important role in stage two and three.