The Joburg Market ventures into Africa
Joburg Market agreement signing ceremony with Ilamfya of Zambia
Africa´s largest fresh produce market, the Joburg Market, has entered into an agreement with a Lusaka-based fresh produce company, IIamfya Agricultural Products, to provide technical and operational skills towards the running of the facility.
A partnership between the Joburg Market and Lusaka-based fresh produce company, IIamfya Agricultural Products, will go a long way in advancing the interest of farmers and guarantee food security both locally and in Zambia.
´This is an important milestone towards realising the Joburg Market Africa growth strategy,´ said Joburg Market CEO Kgosientso Ramokgopa during the signing of an agreement that will see the Joburg Market assist the Zambian fresh produce facility with technical and operational skills.
The spinoffs of this partnership, which will see the Joburg Market provide capacity, management and mentorship support to emerging farmers, turn IIamfya´s fresh produce market, packing house and grading point for produce from local farmers into a professionally run facility.
The partnership with IIamfya, who also operate beyond Zambia in the Great Lakes Region, will see the Joburg Market, Africa´s largest fresh produce market, position itself as a food hub in the continent.
´We are confident the agreement would facilitate Joburg Market´s entry into the Zambian market with expected business flow into the great lakes region, which has a large serviceable population´.
Zambia is bordered by 7 countries including Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.
Explaining the impact of the global food shortage on the poor, Ramokgopa said the market conditions experienced last year confirmed that expansion was a business imperative.
´The South African food sector is very strong because it has not been hurt much by the global crisis, and there are opportunities in the continent with regard developing skills and improving agriculture trade. The deal signed with Ilamfya fits in with our strategy to ensure food security and affordability in the sub-Saharan region.
´We were attracted to Zambia because the country serves as a stable gateway to central Africa and have selected partners who understand the market very well,´ he said.
Giving a brief description of the Joburg Market, Ramokgopa said the Market is a wholly owned entity of the City of Joburg and is the largest fresh produce market in the world by volume.
´It is this market position that makes Joburg Market a strategic asset for the purpose of bolstering the contribution of agriculture to the GDP and further diversification of economies in the continent´ he said.
Bwalya Chiti, the chairperson of Ilamfya said Zambia is a very attractive country that will provide a springboard for the Joburg Market to venture into the Great Lakes Region. He added that Zambia is one of South Africa´s biggest trade partners.
´There is no language barrier, because English is the main language used. The two countries have much else in common and complement each other economically. They have shown like-mindedness in multilateral forums, based on similar socioeconomic challenges. All this suggests an enormous potential yet to be realized,´ said Chiti.
In addition to Zambia, the Joburg Market is looking for opportunities in Nigeria, Ghana and Cameroon were talks with potential partners are already at an advanced stage.
