CHINA – Mpumalanga Premier Mandla Ndlovu highlighted key opportunities in agricultural expansion and health innovation as he commenced his week-long investment mission in the People’s Republic of China. The trip forms part of the province’s broader strategy to secure international partnerships that will boost Mpumalanga’s economic growth, particularly through the soon-to-be-launched Mpumalanga International Fresh Produce Market (MIFPM), a R2 billion project aimed at opening global markets for small-scale farmers.
Premier Ndlovu is accompanied by MEC for Agriculture, Rural Development and Environmental Affairs, Nomphumelelo Hlophe, and senior provincial officials. The delegation is scheduled to return to South Africa on June 23.
“The need to access global markets prompted this mission,” said Ndlovu. “We are targeting the Chinese markets because they are internationally recognised trade institutions for the export of agricultural commodities.”
The MIFPM is designed to give farmers direct access to buyers and eliminate inflated prices caused by middlemen. Once operational, it is expected to create 156 jobs, with 150 000 subsistence and small-scale farmers enabled to trade their produce. A further 105 000 jobs are expected to be created at farm level.
Kicking off the week-long visit following their departure from the country on Saturday, June 14, the delegation toured a one-million-hectare olive orchard in Longnan City, Gansu Province, known for its integrated value chain that includes research, training, production, and agro-processing of olives into products such as olive whisky, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals used to treat chronic illnesses like cancer and diabetes. “We visited an olive orchard farm situated in Longnan City,” Ndlovu said. “The farm produces olives not only for consumption but also focuses on agro-processing for various other uses. Mpumalanga could benefit by farming and processing similar olive products through training and twinning our farmers with this market leader.”
“This partnership will enable our farmers and unemployed graduates to be trained in this field and stimulate agro-entrepreneurship, strengthening the provincial economy while reducing the high unemployment rate,” he added.
The delegation also visited Zhejiang University’s Integrated Industry-Academia-Research Institute in Tianjin, a leader in cancer research, early detection, and the conversion of traditional plant-based medicine into modern pharmaceuticals.
“We are continuing to engage with various businesses in China in an effort to foster a partnership with Mpumalanga,” said Ndlovu.
In his absence, Premier Ndlovu appointed the MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs, Speedy Mashilo, as Acting Premier. Mashilo delivered the keynote address at the Provincial Youth Day celebration held in Mangweni, Nkomazi Local Municipality.
