Ministry of Foreign Trade holds preparatory meeting for UAE delegation that will be part of UAE pavilion at Africa’s Big Seven Exhibition in Johannesburg

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) July 10, 2011 -- July 9, 2011
The UAE Ministry of Foreign Trade (MoFT) held a preparatory meeting for the UAE delegation that will be part of the country’s pavilion at Africa’s Big Seven Exhibition, taking place in Johannesburg, South Africa from July 17 to 19, 2011. The meeting was held in Dubai on July 7th, in collaboration with the Dubai Export Development Corporation, and was attended by free zone representatives and UAE-based food companies.

The meeting opened with a welcome address by Mohammed Nasser Hamdan Al Zaabi, Director of Trade Promotion at MoFT, in which he emphasized that the UAE’s participation in Africa’s Big Seven Exhibition, was imperative due to several key factors. He pointed to the strong trade and investment ties between the UAE and African countries, as well as the study of markets in these countries which would enhance the added value of UAE exports and the National Economy and caters the investment requirements of the country. He also pointed out that this participation comes within the framework of the Ministry’s efforts to develop export opportunities for UAE products, the recommendations by the national economic regulators and their plans for overseas expansion. Al Zaabi also emphasized the importance of the Ministry’s support to Emirati entrepreneurs and SMEs in the UAE.
A presentation on the volume of bilateral trade between the UAE and South Africa was also made during the meeting, as well as an overview of key investment opportunities, in addition to the steps involved in setting up business operations in South Africa. The UAE delegation participating in this meeting included a number of companies specialised in food and beverage that are interested in exporting to the African market, in addition to the participation of a number of free zones, and UAE-based SMEs.

The only event of its kind in the continent, Africa’s Big Seven Expo presents a combination of seven separate but co-located events that define the various stages and specific technologies required to move produce from the field through the processing, packaging and marketing phases eventually culminating in retail sales in Africa – a market with 725 million consumers. Africa’s store of oil and mineral resources and packaging equipment and related technology as well as finished products for retail sale, provide massive business opportunities.