DURBAN - Products from KwaZulu-Natal will be shown at the Maritime Silk Road International Expo 2017 in Dongguan, China.
The expo that starts today and ends on the 24th will showcase various products from the province such as choice rum from sugarcane, grain food supplements, genuine leather belts and organic tea tree oil.
Trade and Investment KwaZulu-Natal (TIKZN), an entity that promotes KZN as an investment destination and helps local companies to connect to the the international market, is organising the South African pavilion at the expo.
The delegation consists of 46 exhibitors and 20 buyers.
KZN has completed several co-operative agreements with Chinese provinces including Guangxi, Guangdong, Jiangsu, Fujian and Shanghai.
Lester Bouah the TIKZN executive manager for export development and promotion said that the participation of the province at the Expo will position KZN as a destination for investment, trade and tourism, that has diverse and unique opportunities for Chinese investment.
In August 2016 during the Guangdong and South African Economic and Trade Cooperation Conference in Durban, Zhu Xiaodan, the former Governor of Guangdong, and Willies Mchunu, the Premier of KZN signed a memorandum.
The memorandum was to promote joint collaboration and partnership in improving the socio-economic growth and development for both provinces.
According to Bouah, China is South Africa's largest trading partner and attempts need to be made to even the trade between South Africa and China, which currently favour China.
Last year July the Dongguan Commodity South Africa Display Centre set up their flagship store established their flagship store in Durban. Bouah says that the store is a channel through which problems relating to agriculture, cultural exchange and education between Guangdong and KZN can be pursued.
Some of the KZN companies that will be represented are the SA Footwear & Leather Export Council, Zululand Distilling Company, Saddler Belts and Veld Botanicals Soil.