South Africa funds 35 companies coming for import expo

The South African government is funding 35 companies to participate in the forthcoming China International Import Expo (CIIE) this year, with the firms ambitious to present products and services to potential buyers in China and from other parts of the world.

The 35 companies will represent a range of sectors including agro-processing and agriculture, textiles, clothing, oil and gas.

Nutaria, a macadamia nuts manufacturer, is one of the companies coming to the 7th CIIE with the government fund.

The company specializes in the export, import and distribution of macadamia nuts.

"We process macadamia nut and shell, macadamia kernels, peanuts, soybean as well as other beans. Our product is South African (made). We predominantly focus on the production of macadamia in South Africa and we offer high value products. And our production time is quite good. So the quality of the products that we offer to the market is of the top standards and top quality," said Thendo Tshivhengwa, Nutaria's Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

Tshivhengwa said his company is growing and able to create jobs in a country that has a high unemployment rate.

"We have about 25 part-time people. So we keep on growing. Throughout our supply and network, there's over 300 people that are employed. So this shows that the South African government is taking seriously the need of enhancing the economic growth and ensuring that the people are employed. Young people are working here, (and) I can tell you now, the average age of people that we employ is under 30. So we are getting there," he said.

The country's trade, industry and competition ministry said the CIIE 2024 is one of the leading import-themed fairs in China, and a key platform to profile offerings to South Africa's largest trading partner.

By funding the companies, the trade authorities intend to ensure a larger footprint of South African products in China.

"e're able to bring them together under the umbrella of a national pavilion and then showcase a variety of South African products that can be consumed by the Chinese market. So we do this under what is called a national pavilion where we would have the South African branding that showcases that all of these different products are then under the South Africa banner. So we are then able to amplify or scale," said Zanele Mkhize, chief director of export promotion and marketing at the South African Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC).

The China International Import Expo 2024 will take place in Shanghai from Nov 5 to Nov 10.

South Africa funds 35 companies coming for import expo

South Africa funds 35 companies coming for import expo

The recent Israeli airstrikes on multiple sites in Yemen, including Hodeidah Port in the north, could have devastating consequences, potentially further worsening the humanitarian situation in the country, an United Nations official said on Friday.

On Dec 19, Israel launched a series of airstrikes against Houthi targets in northern Yemen, resulting in the destruction of two major power stations in the capital, Sanaa, and several ports along the coast of the Red Sea.

A total of three ports in Hodeidah Province were affected by the airstrikes: the ports of Hodeidah, Saleef, and Ras Isa.

On Thursday, Israel launched another round of airstrikes targeting key infrastructure and Houthi-controlled sites in Sanaa and Hodeidah, according to media reports.

Julien Harneis, UN resident coordinator in Yemen, stated that 80 percent of food and nearly 90 to 95 percent of medical supplies needed in northern Yemen rely on Hodeidah Port for passage, making the port extremely important.

He emphasized that if the port were to break down, it would have catastrophic consequences, leading to a rapid deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Yemen.

"So, the airstrikes some days ago which destroyed the two tugs was estimated to reduce the harbor capacity by 50 percent. Now, we don't know how long that reduction in capacity will be and we have yet to done a thorough analysis of what the impact of yesterday's airstrikes. So, we're still collecting information and trying to understand that," Harneis said.

The UN predicts that by 2025, the population in need of humanitarian assistance in Yemen will rise to 19 million people. If the internal conflict in Yemen persists, this situation may worsen even further, Harneis noted.

Israeli airstrikes on Yemen may trigger devastating consequences: UN official