June 21, 2007
By Lucky Sindane
THE international football governing body, Fifa, has identified a number of potential business opportunities to be taken during the 2010 Fifa World Cup™.
These were discussed at a Business Opportunities Conference on 19 and 20 June hosted by the Local Organising Committee, together with the Department of Trade and Industry, that looked at ways in which small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) could benefit from the soccer spectacular.
Among the guests were Johannesburg's 2010 executive director, Sibongile Mazibuko; the Fifa president, Sepp Blatter; the chairman of the 2010 Fifa World Cup™ Organising Committee, Issa Hayatou; the chief executive officer of the Local Organising Committee, Danny Jordaan; Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngquka; Deputy Finance Minister Jabu Moleketi; and the Gauteng MEC for sport, recreation, arts and culture, Barbara Creecy.
Businesses from industries such as construction, tourism, hospitality and catering, transport, security, information and communication technology (ICT), manufacturing, retail and wholesale, and health attended the conference.
Blatter said that Fifa would "offer all the possible opportunities the world might present to the people of this country. We have to make this event something the world can be proud of."
During her keynote address, the deputy president said that 2010 was a big event and "we have to make sure that the economic opportunities of this event are shared among our people".
Fifa President, Sepp Blatter receives a present from an Ekurhuleni official, with Deputy President, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka looking on
Ordinary people should be properly trained so that the services they provided were of a high standard, she said. Visitors who received quality service would want to return.
Business opportunities identified at the conference included general football promotions, co-promotions with World Cup sponsors, acquiring product licences from Fifa to produce official merchandise, and service provision.
"Everybody will be talking football in 2010 - use this opportunity to benefit from the increased attention to football," said Alex Koch, of Fifa's marketing, communications and research department.
"South African companies will be needed in various areas such as construction, tourism, hospitality and catering services, transport, security, ICT, manufacturing and health."
The deputy director-general in the Department of Trade and Industry, Iqbal Sharma, echoed his sentiments. "There is a whole range of benefits one can benefit from. The games are spread across the country and so should be the benefits. No service provider from Joburg shall render services in Polokwane. We should utilise service providers from that [area]."
Sharma appealed to SMMEs to make South Africa proud during the football tournament. "I know for sure that you are going to do a good job so go for it."
Speaking about the conference, Jordaan said it had been rewarding.
"The conference was a very successful one and we are very happy with the response we got from SMMEs. 2010 is a very big event and we have to make use of the opportunities that it presents.
"Now that we have presented the opportunities we have to look at how we roll them on," he said.
The Business Opportunities Conference took place at Emperors Palace in Kempton Park.
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