Cape town: As the Perishable Products Export Control Board (PPECB) prepares to celebrate its 100th anniversary in June, Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen has congratulated and welcomed the organisation's newly appointed board members.

According to South African Government News Agency, established in June 1926, the PPECB is entering its second century of service as a linchpin of South Africa's export and trade infrastructure, particularly in the agricultural sector. Agriculture continues to play a central role in the country's economy, serving as an engine for job creation and source of foreign exchange. As the world's trade landscape shifts, the role of the PPECB in providing independent, internationally recognised quality certification and cold chain management has never been more crucial.

The newly constituted board brings together a wealth of expertise and knowledge across the agricultural, agro-processing, and marine value chains. Their collective experience is a strategic asset as the country pursues new market access and seeks to expand existing international markets. "I want to congratulate our new board members on taking up this mantle. They are stepping into leadership roles at an institution that has spent a century building trust in the South African export certificate," Steenhuisen said.

With global trade becoming increasingly complex, the Minister emphasised that the calibre of the new board is a direct response to the need for high-level technical and strategic expertise. The PPECB Board of Directors comprises the following members: Anton Kruger, Jill Atwood-Palm, Albert Coetzee, Jacques du Preez, Lindie Stroebel, Michael Vorster, Werner van Rooyen, Jolanda Andrag, Bonga Mavume, and Pheladi Tlomatsane.

Steenhuisen expressed confidence in the new board, stating, "The Ministry is confident that this board will provide the needed steady and innovative vision to bolster South Africa's reputation as a world-class exporter of premium perishable goods."