South Africa's poultry industry has shown remarkable resilience despite facing up to the challenges brought by the highly pathogenic Avian Influenza which has forced farmers to cull millions of birds, but many consumers are still concerned by the rising costs.
Poultry production in the country is being restored and supply chains are slowly coming back on line after a devastating bird flu outbreak ripped through the country last year.
Though the situation is improving, supply chains in the poultry sector haven't been fully restored yet as farmers still struggle with the high input costs which are hampering efforts to meet consumer demand.
"Although we've lost 30 percent of our flocks, we still didn't have a shortage of chicken meat during the Avian Influenza period. And what we did as an industry -- it wasn't a combined effort, it was individual companies taking action -- they imported 285 million hatching eggs that they hatched in our hatcheries, placed the birds on our broiler farms, and then slaughtered these birds to keep jobs in the industry," said Izzak Breitenbach, CEO of South African Poultry Association.
Feed is an important component in poultry production but it has also become expensive, piling pressure on farmers, and while fuel prices have eased slightly they still remain the highest input cost, followed by electricity.
"We will have farmers that got the disease or have birds that were in contact with the diseased birds, and they have culled all those birds. These chicken houses then stand empty, and at the cost of the producer, they need to be replenished. And because it's long-living birds, it would be broiler breeder birds and commercial layer birds. These are very expensive birds, so it has a material impact," Breitenbach said.
Chicken is still the most affordable protein for the majority in South Africa, but the knock-on effect of these surging production costs is also being seen at the point of sale and is being felt by consumers, some of whom are even thinking of cutting back.
"The price of eggs and chicken have gone up significantly, but they haven't come down again. So it affects us at the end of the day in a big, big way. We've got a little baby at home, and it's a huge effect because it not only affects the [price of] chicken and the daily cost of living, but you have to increase your budget," said a resident.
"The cost of living is too high, so next time we won't eat any chicken anymore. We won't eat meat at all. We'll be vegetarians. Yeah, it's too much because now I'm no longer buying like the way I used to. It's too expensive," said another local man.
S Africa's poultry industry grapples with rising costs in aftermath of avian flu outbreak
Macao has been emerging as a global hub for conventions and exhibitions in recent years by exploring the enormous opportunities in the sector, driving the region to advance its economic diversification and embrace a brighter future.
Macao has received many awards this year, such as the Best Convention City (Asia) and the Best BT-MICE City, showcasing the recognition for and influence of Macao's exhibition industry.
More than 1,000 electronic game enthusiasts from all over the world gathered recently in Macao to participate in a esports themed event.
Su Zhili, organizer of the event, said that Macao's rich experience in hosting large-scale events, coupled with its good infrastructure, has driven him to choose the region as an ideal destination to hold such an activity.
"Macao has held many similar large-scale events. It has rich experience, and the facilities at the venue are relatively mature, so we can start our work comfortably," said Su.
During the first three quarters of 2024, Macao held more than 1,000 conferences and exhibitions in total.
"We will invite more professional, special conferences to be held in Macao and also cultivate more exhibition brands with international influence in Macao, so as to promote Macao's exhibitions to be more market-oriented, professional, international, digital and greener from various aspects. This is our goal," said Elaine Wong, member of the Macao Commerce and Investment Promotion Institute.
In addition, multiple large exhibitions and conferences, such as the Macao International Trade and Investment fair, the Macao Franchise Expo, and the International Infrastructure Investment and Construction Forum, are held regularly in Macao.
With the introduction of a series of policies and measures to facilitate the exchanges between the mainland and Macao, as well as the construction and development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, Macao's convention and exhibition industry will embrace more opportunities for development in the foreseeable future.
"We have such a good industrial base in the Greater Bay Area. The mode of 'Convention and Exhibition + Industry' not only integrates the industries of Macao, but also the industries of the Greater Bay Area. In addition, Macao actively integrates into the national development and plays a role in the Belt and Road. Why are we so confident in Macao's convention and exhibition sector? Because it is backed by the motherland, and the country gives Macao great support," said Alan Ho, chairman of the Macao Association of Convention, Exhibition and Tourism Sectors.
Macao emerges as global hub for conventions and exhibitions, driving economic diversification and international recognition
