Thirty South African agro-processing companies from six provinces are showcasing their products to international buyers at the Anuga International Trade Fair in Cologne, Germany, from 4-8 October 2025.
Held under the theme “Sustainable Growth”, Anuga 2025 emphasises the importance of balancing economic prosperity with environmental protection. The biennial event is recognised as the world’s largest and most influential food and beverage fair, drawing distributors, retailers, importers and wholesalers from across the globe.
At its last edition in 2023, Anuga hosted more than 7 900 exhibitors from 118 countries and attracted over 140 000 trade visitors from 200 nations, underscoring its global reach and significance.
Also read: Affordable, inclusive access to finance for township-based and cooperative agro-processors
South Africa’s participation has been made possible through the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic) under its Export and Marketing and Investment Assistance (EMIA) Scheme, which supports local businesses to access international markets.
According to Zuko Godlimpi, Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, the initiative is aligned with South Africa’s export market diversification strategy.
“This is part of the South African government’s contribution to export-led industrialisation aimed at driving economic growth. Our efforts are focused on increasing the country’s capacity to export diversified, value-added goods and services to global markets,” said Godlimpi.
He added that facilitating participation at Anuga forms part of the dtic’s broader plan to promote South Africa’s agro-processing industry internationally and mitigate challenges such as trade barriers and tariffs in traditional markets like the United States.
Also read: Market access ‘just first step’ to success in export market
“Anuga presents South African companies with a unique opportunity to position themselves as reliable suppliers of packaged and processed food products. It provides a powerful platform to showcase proudly South African products, create global awareness, and strengthen our market presence in Europe and beyond,” he explained.
Through this platform, South African agro-processors will gain access to thousands of potential buyers and decision-makers, boosting the country’s efforts to grow its exports, create jobs, and promote sustainable growth within the agro-processing sector.
Also read: Blueberries one of SA’s export success stories – Steenhuisen
