CAPE TOWN - A business delegate of 20 will jet off to Russia this weekend to participate in the dti's organised Investment and Trade Initiative to take place in Novosibirsk, Russia from the 24-25 October 2017.
The department says this mission is part of their efforts to seek markets globally for the South African produced goods.
In an interview with Business Report, The Director of Great Hearts of Africa, Lily Doris Macrae - one of the 20 business people to leave for Russia, said their products are already in stores in Moscow and hopes this initiative will assist the company to widen to other parts of Russia.
"I was part of the dti’s mission to Moscow last year where I successfully negotiated a deal with a chain of supermarkets called Azbuka Vkusa. We delivered our first order to the stores this year and our products are already sold in their shops," said Macrae.
Great Heart of Africa is a company located in Umhlanga, Durban, has been producing spices and sauces since its establishment in 2009.
In terms of the Western Cape, the Russian market has a great taste for South African wines.
The dti is therefor is trying to strengthen trade ties with a number of domestic wine companies.
Managing Director for Thandi Wines, Vernon Henn will form part of the business unit heading for Russia this coming weekend.
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Henn notes that the increase in demand for South African wines in Russia provides a good opportunity for the local companies to penetrate the Russian market.
"The continuous interactions that are taking place between South Africa and Russia within the Brics platform also provide us with a perfect opportunity to make inroads into the Russian market," Henn added.
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Two weeks ago the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Bulelani Magwanishe told a gathering of the Western Cape wine producers and a Russian wine buyer that compared to 2015, SA’s wine exports to Russia increased by 58% in 2016, amounting to a total of R273 million, the department's statement said.