Perishable Products Export Control Board (PPECB) chairman Anton du Preez has launched two books, the second PPECB Export Directory and 160 Years of Export ñ The History of the Perishable Products Export Control Board, a complete history of the PPECB.
He made the following speech regarding the latter at a function held at the Cape Town Castle on Tuesday (November 25).
“The thought to put to paper PPECB's history came from Dr Fanie van Rensburg, previous chairman, who served as board member for 41 years until 2000. During my term of office as chairman from 2000 to 2003, the PPECB board approved the project and we started off by seeking suitable sponsors. May I take this opportunity to thank those organisations that made contributions, all of whom are listed in our book, without which it would have been very difficult, if not impossible to produce the superb publication that we have today.
“The aim of the project was to have a proper record of PPECB's history since inception and the reasons for its establishment, which, so the project team tells me, was by no means an easy task. Incidentally, the team (a joint venture between PPECB and Malachite, our publishers) worked for some 15 months to do research, delve into archives and to do interviews with various persons in an attempt to gather the facts over a period of more than one and a half centuries, and to capture the development of an industry from a small beginning to a vast and extensive business. In such an undertaking it is obvious that the names of various people and ventures will be mentioned, however, there are countless leaders and pioneers who played important roles that are faceless or nameless. They include people in the various perishable product industries, shipping lines, government departments and within PPECB itself, all of whom must never be forgotten.
“As you will learn from the book, PPECB was established during 1926 when an authority became necessary to control and encourage the export of perishable products during the early part of the previous century. Initially, export products under PPECB's control consisted mainly of deciduous and citrus fruit but the product range soon expanded and shipping space that had previously been available exclusively to fruit was being shared with meat, eggs, poultry, dairy and other products.
“Today, PPECB has grown into a well-respected organisation the world over, employing some 300 staff members today looking after over 230 products on the export list. These exports are certainly one of South Africa's major assets, since the value thereof is approximately eight billion rands per annum. It is also estimated that the industries that are served by PPECB employ over a million people at all levels of production, processing and distribution. Furthermore, these primary export products are renewed annually and do not exhaust scarce resources.
“Given that South Africa is only some three hundred and fifty years old, then the almost 80 years of existence of the PPECB is a remarkable accomplishment. There are probably few, if any, other statutory organisations that have been around for that long and that are still making a significant contribution in exports.”
PPECB EXPORT DIRECTORY 2003/4 PROJECT
Du Preez also commented on the export directory, second official guide to South African perishable export products and export services providers. “The aim with our second export directory was firstly to improve on out first attempt of last year, which incidentally has become enormously popular," he said. "Secondly, to make available to producers, exporters, importers, clients and customers both locally as well as internationally a comprehensive work of reference on the fresh produce of South Africa; the exportation thereof and the activities and services offered by PPECB. We also timed the launch of the book so that we could include the very latest statistics on perishable exports; in fact right up to the 2003 export seasons.
“It is considered that the inclusion of the well-known technical “Blue Book” will add significant value to the publication, and such was the demand for our previous edition that it has become necessary to have some 6,000 copies printed, compared to only 1,500 last year.
“By publishing this Directory we aim to support and enable our producers, exporters and other stakeholders to trade successfully in the markets of the world. This effort also ties in with our aim and philosophy to use every opportunity to enhance customer service excellence."
The directory includes over 200 pages of information on fruit, vegetables, flora, grain, oil seeds, marine products, meat, dairy and value-added products. The export services providers listed include export agents, export logistics, refrigeration, transport, packaging, co-operatives and industry organisations.”
