A delegation of United States food-processing companies will visit Southern Africa from October 31 to November 4 to set up trade ties with counterparts in the region, US Agriculture Minister, Mike Johanns has said. 

A South African newspaper reported recently that the mission will meet with potential partners from Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia and South Africa. 

The mission is meant to promote joint investments between the US and Africa in the food-processing industry, especially basic food and fishery products. 

Minister Johanns said he believed the mission will be extended later to the rest of the continent.

28 July 2005