The Innovation Hub- the Innovation Agency of the Gauteng Province- congratulates Makhamisa Foods, a company incubated at BioPark@Gauteng, for being selected to participate in the Outward Selling Mission to Bogota, Columbia on 20 to 22 March 2018 and the Agro-Food Nigeria Trade Show, taking place on 27 to 28 March 2018 in Lagos, Nigeria.

The objective of the Outward Selling Mission to Columbia is to increase trade and investment as well as selling South Africa, through its companies that are partaking in this mission, as a preferred foreign direct investment destination in Africa. The Mission, supported and coordinated by The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), will host a Trade and Investment Seminar; business-to-business meetings; and site visits.

The Department of Trade and industry (DTI), in conjunction with the Gauteng Growth and Development Agency (GDDA) will lead the business delegation to attend and participate in the Agro-Food Nigeria Trade Show. The Trade Show will be held at the Landmark Centre in Lagos, Nigeria.

The main aim of the Agro-Food Nigeria 2018 Show, on the other hand, will be to showcase some of the South African value-added products, specifically in agro-processing products and services, to the Nigerian local consumer market to support increase in exports and broader markets.

This is also an incredible platform for South African companies to initiate and establish strategic business relations with their Nigerian counterparts for future trade and investment between the two countries.

Mr Terence Leluma, founder of Makhamisa Foods will participate in both the international Agri-Food Processing forums. From this participation, Makhamisa alongside a host of other South African companies, will contribute to introducing South Africa’s Agro-food processing potential, thereby increasing export and the value add of these products.

“Makhamisa Foods is highly ecstatic to be part of this Trade Mission to Columbia in less than three days from today; and the Trade Show to Nigeria thereafter. As an emerging enterprise in the manufacturing sector, which is focussed on world-class processing of condiments while guided by the food safety standards, local and international regulations, both these opportunities will serve as a benchmark on our readiness to supply the West African markets as well as Central and South America”, said Terence Leluma.

The Biopark@Gauteng business incubator provides business development support to start-ups in the health, agriculture and industrial biotechnology sectors. The support is provided in collaboration with Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (GDARD), the Department of Trade and Industry (dti) and the eGoliBio Life Sciences Incubator. Since its incubation at the BioPark@Gauteng business incubator in May 2016. Makhamisa has benefited from business mentorship, business training as well as financial and commercialization support.