TAITRA pledges support to local exporters through EIPA

The Eswatini Investment Promotion Authority (EIPA) has once again received support from the Government of Taiwan through the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA). The two organisations will work together to facilitate trade opportunities for Eswatini based businesses to access the Taiwanese market.

TAITRA will this year make it possible for 30 local traders to visit 3 trade shows in Taipei, the Taiwanese capital. These trade shows are aimed at connecting businesses with potential clients, distributors and trade partners. Eswatini’s participation in these trade show forms part of efforts to deepen trade relations with Taiwan under the Economic Cooperation Agreement (ECA) signed between Eswatini and Taiwan. It is also focused on encouraging trade between local companies and highly profitable potential markets in Taiwan. The local companies participation, sponsored by TAITRA and facilitated by EIPA, will see the traders representing themselves at the 3 expo’s allowing them to talk about and sell their sales pitch to new markets directly.

Bongani Ntshangase, Head of Trade at EIPA comments, “In promoting external trade in Eswatini, it is important for us to give local businesses an opportunity to showcase their products in international markets. TAITRA has stepped forward and made it possible for us to have representation at these trade shows in Taiwan and to expose our local businesses to exhibiting products on an intercontinental scale. The support that we have received from TAITRA is instrumental in the number of exhibitors we as EIPA are able to send to Taiwan. TAITRA is indeed a partner which is committed to increasing Eswatini’s export potential and opening up opportunities for local companies to penetrate the Taiwanese market. We would like to thank them for their continued support and look forward to working with them into the future.”

In April 2023, 12 traders from Eswatini will be taking part in the Giftionery Culture and Creative Expo in Taipei. This is the first of the three trade shows that local companies will have the opportunity to use as a stepping stone to increase their export activity. The chosen traders went through a selection process and ultimately formed part of the final list of representatives from Eswatini. TAITRA will sponsor their participation in the Giftionery and Culture Creative Show by providing accommodation, transportation and other support before and during the exhibition. Giftionery is one of Taiwan’s biggest creative expo’s featuring creative products such as school & office supplies, art & crafts, houseware & home décor, toys & children’s items, handbags, jewelry, tech and branding.?

June of this year will see the start of Food Taipei, one of Asia’s biggest trade shows focusing on food and beverages processing, food technology, fresh fruits and vegetables, mineral water, beef and other meat, sugar, all types of edible products, food packaging, restaurants and catering. Invitations to exhibitors are now open and close on 12 April 2023.?

Traders in the food and beverages industry can also look forward to the Kaohsiung Food Show which will also take place in Taipei in October of 2023. This exhibition focuses on fresh fruits and agricultural produce, meat, dairy, fish, condiments, frozen and prepared products, dehydrated food stuffs, coffee, tea, wine & spirits, beverages, confections and cookies and health and leisure foods. Details of how traders can participate will be shared in due course through EIPA’s various platforms. ?

Ntshangase concludes, “Growing our local businesses and opening up opportunities for them to export their products, means we are developing and enhancing our trade activity as a nation. This will not only translate into job creation for emaSwati, but it will also see us steadily continue to achieve our goal of becoming an export driven, private sector led economy. We would like to encourage our local businesses to continue doing their research on the outside markets they would like to penetrate and to get in touch with trends and goods in demand. This will help them with providing market relevant products which can be enjoyed by a diverse group of people.”?