Page 12 - SA Fruit Journal VOLUME 14

Wat is die terugvoer van Suid-Afrikaanse uitvoerders?Is daar goeie besigheidgedoen, al dan nie?Baie positief, beide wat die ontwerp van die stalletjie betref, asook die aantal navrae. Uitvoerders wat teenwoordig was, het rap- porteer dat hulle goeie besigheid kon doen, veral in die lig van die Russiese sanksies teen sommige Westerse lande (wat geleenthede vir SA skep), asook die ontwikkeling van bykomende markte vir sitrus.Wat is jou toekomsvisie vir die Suid- Afrikaanse vrugtebedryf in die Ooste? Die SA vars vrugte-uitvoerbedryf besef die potensiaal en geleenthede in die Oosterse markte en is sedert 2013 aktief betrokke om marktoegang vir SA vrugte in teikenmarkte te verkry en/of te verbeter.Justin Chadwick.Creating awareness ofSA fruit in the EastJUSTIN CHADWICKCEO of the Citrus Growers’ Association (CGA)“Asia Fruit Logistica is a very important event for South African producers and exporters. Our production growth shows an increase of between 7 to 9% per year for the last ten years. We are now at 115 million cartons per season. Therefore we need to find new mar- kets for fruit. The only real new markets are in the East, Eastern Europe and Africa. The result is that we have to focus our activities on opening up markets in South East Asia. We have to come to this show where every- one congregates. We also work on increas- ing our volumes to markets in Indonesia and India,” says Chadwick.“The Blackspot issue is very relevant to our citrus industry – 40 to 45% of our vol- umes go to Europe, which remains our most important market. We shall have to reduce our market share, should the issue continue in the EU. The cost of measures to meet the EU are becoming higher, making it a less at- tractive market. According to Chadwick export requirements differ from country to country in the East. “That is why we empha- size research. Our biggest hurdles are tariffs, not phytosanitary issues, as well as uncertain regulatory requirements. We have to handle new regulations, very often, without warning, like recently in Indonesia. They are learning, but are uncertain of how to police their own food safety. Issues with South East Asia in-clude specifically logistics. We have a hundred year experience, networks and branding in Europe. We have been sending citrus to Japan since the 1970’s and to China since 2004 and we are still developing these markets.“Another issue is networking or relation- ship building. Jason Bosch once said: ‘You can bully the Chinese, but will most certainly not get a relationship. They want to be your friend.’ We also have to create an awareness of South African fruit in the East by branding and establishing free trade agreements with China, but we certainly do need the support of our Government.”The South African stand.INDUSTRY NEWS 9 FEB | MARCH 2015Handelsmerke domineer Asiafruit CongressDie week van varsprodukte-aktiwiteite in Hong Kong het afgeskop met die Asiafruit Congress, op 2 September, die dag voor ASIAFRUIT LOGISTICA. Die voldag konferensie is by- gewoon deur meer as 400 bedryfsleiers van 33 verskillende lande.Die hooftema van vanjaar se konferensie was ‘n paneelbespreking oor die rol van han- delsname in Asië se vars produkte besigheid. Daar is ook gefokus op die blink toekoms vir produsente handelsname in Asiatiese markte, met ‘n spesifieke fokus op die geleenthede om verbruikers-handelsmerke te vestig. Die belang- rikheid van marktoegang tot China en die be- hoefte om met streeksverspreiders wat kyk na direkte invoere, saam te werk, is ook bespreekBesoekers kon ook daagliks twee inligting- sessies bywoon tydens die Asiafruit Business Forum. Dag Een het gefokus op bemarking, Dag Twee op tegnologie en Dag Drie op produksie.