Midrand – If variety is the spice of life, then Africa’s Big 7 Expo at Gallagher Convention Centre is the place to be.
All kinds of goodies are on display for three days from Sunday.
One of the more impressive exhibitions is the Indonesia pavilion, where well packaged products are bound to catch the eye.
At least five companies from Indonesisa sent representatives to the expo with various agricultural products that include; noodles in a cup, Arabia coffee, coconut milk, green tea, sardines, tinned snail and more.
You may love Indonesian coffee, but not even know it because many of the island nation’s high-quality roasts are branded for the regions from which they come.
Because Indonesia is mountainous, and volcanic it produces unique varieties of coffee that inlcude – Arabica, Robusta, and Liberica.
If you are a coffee connoisseur, the Indonesia pavilion is the place to go.
Indonesia, which is looking to grow markets in South Africa, is exhibiting at the expo for the 20th consecutive year.
The Indonesia pavilion is nestled between the Indian and Chinese pavilions.
AFRICA’S BIG 7 EXHIBITION: The editor of The Bulrushes Moses Mudzwiti speaks to the Director of Indonesian Trade & Promotion Center in Johannesburg, Tonny Hendriawan and the Charge d’ Affairs of the Embassy of Indonesia Victor Josef Sambuaga.
Indonesia is a mountainous, and volcanic country, you may love Indonesian coffee but not even know it.
That’s because many of the island nation’s high-quality roasts are branded for the regions from which they come.
At the Indonesia pavilion, Pt Rex Canning is showcasing canned products including Whole baby Clams, Crab Meat, and escargot (edible snails).
ABC – a well-known brand in Indonesia – has a variety of green teas and noodles.
The Mi Cup noodles – available in many flavours, are convenient for on-the-go people.
Commenting on the wide variety of products on show Charge d’ Affairs of the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia Victor Josef Sambuaga said as many as 14 companies were showcasing their products.
Sambuaga says some of the products from Indonesia are already available in local supermarkets.
He said in Egypt, Indonesia has set up a factory to produce noodles.
“Of course the ingredients are from Indonesia,” assured Sambuaga.
He said visitors to the expo who are interested in products from Indonesia that are not yet locally available can contact their embassy in Pretoria.
Director of Indonesian Trade and Promotion Center in Johannesburg, Tonny Hendriawan said the intention was to widen the variety of products sold in South Africa.
However, he said trade tariffs were proving to be stubborn.
“We have been talking to the South Africa Trade and Industry Department since 2017 about the possibility of lowering import tariffs,” said Hendriawan.
He explained that tariffs were rated from zero to 30%.
“Only our coconut products are zero rated,” Hendriawan said.
He said Indonesia would continue to engage on the tariff issue to see if more products could be brought to South Africa.
Last year, Indonesia sold products worth US$3.25 billion to South Africa.
In March 2023, South Africa exported R1.67 billion worth of products and imported R1.62 billion from Indonesia.
Africa’s Big 7 Exhibition
The seven-in-one trade show comprises Agri-Food (manufacturers’ and producers’ expo); FoodBiz Africa (food service and equipment), DrinkTech Africa (beverage processing and packaging machinery, equipment, and technology).
It also includes FoodTech Africa (production, processing, and packaging), InterBake Africa (equipment, processes, and ingredients for the baking industry), Pan Africa Retail Trade Exhibition (food, beverages, merchandise, and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG); and Retail Solutions Africa (technology for retailers).
The three-day expo continues until Tuesday.
