Pretoria - An Outward Selling and Investment Mission (OSIM) to Uganda has given a South African agro-processing company a chance to build relations with potential investors and buyers in that country.
William Haywood, a Pretoria based agro-processing expert in the cooking gel industry, says his company was part of the delegation that visited Uganda with the Department of Trade and Industry (dti) last week.
Haywood on Monday said the mission was a great opportunity for him to enter the African market that has a lot to offer in terms of innovation and growth for his products.
“I was given an opportunity to present my product to a number of buyers, hotels and agents in the hospitality sector, who were quite impressed with what I was offering. I can happily say I now have an agent who will assist with distribution. I also still have to finalise a deal made with one of the biggest hotels in Uganda,” said Haywood.
Haywood believes there are lots of opportunities in Africa that are not well communicated and marketed. He said African markets are the most rewarding if the right contacts and platforms are explored.
The Director of Export Promotion at the dti, Dr Julius Nyalunga, said South Africa will continue expanding trade linkages with other African countries.
“South Africa is a significant source of investment for other African countries. As the largest investor on the continent, this will continue to be the main focus for the African agenda,” said Nyalunga.
He said the main objective for regional integration is to achieve growth and develop the region through investment, infrastructure development and intra-regional trade. – SAnews.gov.za
