Latest news with #exportstrategy
Mail & Guardian
5 days ago
- Business
- Mail & Guardian
Biosecurity is vital for SA's successful agricultural growth and export strategy
South Africa needs to bolster its biosecurity to control the spread of disease in livestock and poultry. Animal and plant health is the bedrock of a thriving agricultural industry and its export strategy. The success of South Africa's agricultural export strategy over the past few decades, which has seen the value of exports grow from $2.4 billion in 2001 to $13.7 billion in 2024, speaks to the strength of the controls implemented over that period. But there are now weaknesses. In recent years, South Africa has experienced frequent outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease, avian influenza and African swine fever. These suggest two problems: first, the growing weaknesses in the country's biosecurity controls, and the potential effect of climate change, which can lead to frequent disease outbreaks as a result of extreme events. These problems are not unique to South Africa. We have seen outbreaks of As a country with ambitions to expand exports of red meat and other livestock products, South Africa will need a robust approach to control disease spread and surveillance for potential risks. South Africa should also continue reviving vaccine production in various entities, such as the Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP), Moreover, the The key is that the sector puts a more focused effort in this area and leverages both academic and private sector capabilities to ensure that South Africa is in a better position regarding animal disease. Anecdotally, it also appears that the changing climate is leading to more disease outbreaks than in the past, which again calls for South Africa to devote more resources to addressing the problem. There needs to be sufficient capital for the regulatory bodies monitoring imports, so that swift actions can be taken to minimise risks when some of the trading partners are affected. Indeed, regulators must always make such decisions independently, after carefully assessing the risks. Moreover, the biosecurity efforts should not be limited to livestock and poultry. While these industries have faced frequent issues, plant health is another area requiring consistent monitoring. There must be continuous surveillance on crops and various fruits. As with livestock, collaborative efforts with academia and the private sector in these areas must continue. There are already partnerships with scientists from some commodity associations and the government. Such collaborations should be nurtured as they remain central to South Africa's agricultural success. Another vital dimension is the agility in registering vaccines, agrochemicals and genetics. The changing environment means that the innovation of scientists and breeders must also be faster. But that will not be the end. The regulators must still satisfy themselves independently of any agrochemical, vaccine, or genetically improved plant. This process also requires an even greater amount of human capital to handle the anticipated increase in requests and demand in the new environment. Ultimately, the success of South Africa's agriculture in delivering a national food-secure country that we enjoy, with nearly a million jobs in farming, and exports of about $13.7 billion, all hinge on biosecurity. Therefore, this area must continue to be a priority, not only in words but also in efforts. The responsibilities lie with both the private sector and the government. Wandile Sihlobo is the chief economist of the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa.
National Post
07-05-2025
- Automotive
- National Post
HGreg receives a Mercure Award in the EDC International Market Development category
Article content MONTRÉAL — Last night, HGreg was honoured at the 2025 Mercuriades Awards ceremony, organized by the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec (FCCQ), by receiving the Mercure Award in the EDC International Market Development category. The company was also a finalist in the TELUS Technology Innovation category. Article content Article content The EDC International Market Development Award recognizes the exceptional performance of a Québec company that has implemented an export or foreign direct investment strategy that has led to tangible growth in international markets. HGreg, already well established in Canada, has distinguished itself by the strategic expansion of its activities in the United States, particularly in Houston, where it has experienced sustained growth since the opening of its first dealership in 2023. Quebec-based automotive group is now present in three largest U.S. car markets – Florida, California and Texas. Article content 'This recognition is a testament to the strategic vision we have been pursuing for several years: to promote our business model well beyond Quebec,' said John Hairabedian, President of HGreg. 'Today, HGrégoire has more than 48 new and pre-owned vehicle dealerships across North America and now sells more vehicles in the United States than in Quebec. But it all started here in Quebec. The lessons learned here were the springboard for our international success. The expansion of our activities represents a major step in this direction, and we intend to continue building on this momentum.' Article content This is HGreg's second Mercure award, having also been honoured in 2023 by Investissement Québec in the Productivity Increase category. Article content Thanks to its vast network of 130 chambers of commerce and 1,100 corporate members, the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec (FCCQ) represents more than 50,000 businesses operating in all sectors of the economy throughout Québec. The FCCQ is the largest network of businesspeople and companies in Québec and is both a federation of chambers of commerce and a provincial chamber of commerce. Its members, whether chambers or companies, all pursue the same goal: to foster an innovative, competitive and sustainable business environment. Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content Contacts Article content For additional information Article content Noémia L'Heureux-Daigneault HGreg 450 472-7272, ext. 1183 noemia@ Article content Article content Article content
