October 18, 2007
By Lesego Madumo
EIGHT local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are, with the help of the City's department of economic development, taking part in the country's premier international trade exhibition, now on at Gallagher Estate in Midrand.
Now in its 15th year, the South African International Trade Exhibition (Saitex) runs from Tuesday, 16 October to Friday, 19 October. It aims to offer local and international companies a platform to forge lasting business associations, and expose their brands, products, and services to a global market.
Working with the Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI), the department provides export support to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the manufacturing and service sector, through its SME Export Promotion Project.
According to the City's economic development department, Johannesburg is interested in supporting initiatives that will help local companies, especially small and medium enterprises (SMEs), to "access global markets".
This forms part of the City's vision, which sees the city as playing "a role as the key economic hub of the continent, and [as] a national economic-growth leader, by ensuring a sustainable, shared growth that benefits all".
Specific interventions, such as supporting the growth of informal, emerging and SME business is needed to create a "highly competitive, sustainable and balanced" local economy, according to the department.
Eight SMEs taking part in the project are jointly participating in Saitex.
"The JCCI runs [the SME Export Promotion Project joint venture or programme] with the City to assist manufacturing and corporate entities to reach an international level," said Wayne Bateman, a trade and investment adviser at the chamber.
"We want these companies to move from a trade deficit to a trade surplus, and start approaching national and international markets."
For an SME to join the programme, it had to be based in Joburg, be financially sustained, and have a local market. "We will assist them in the export market."
Participating companies received business assessments, market research into export opportunities, training in business skills and export orientation, and marketing and trade exhibition support, Bateman noted.
"This year the focus [at Saitex] has been placed on furniture and furnishings, and almost inevitably this has led to the establishment of Furniture Africa [one of the exhibition's themes]," said Pierre Potgieter, the exhibition director. "Bearing this in mind, we are absolutely certain that the timing of this particular tide and those far-seeing exhibitors who caught it will lead to fortune."
Saitex was regarded as the premier gateway to Africa, "which … counts for the growing number of international visitors who deem it essential to visit Saitex".
The only multi-sector trade fair of its size and kind in Africa, dozens of exhibitors take part, showcasing products, services and opportunities from all over the world. Exhibitors get exposure to more than 7 000 agents, distributors and importers with well-established infrastructure and trade networks throughout Africa and the world.
"Since its inception, Saitex has successfully promoted increasing trade between South African, African and [other] foreign companies," Potgieter said, adding that it was the most experienced international trade platform in southern Africa.
"It is known for providing a first-class platform enabling export, import, development and investment opportunities to translate into transactions."
Companies exhibiting this year deal in textiles, agricultural machinery, tubular furniture, futuristic technological gadgets, sports wear, health products, interior décor, paintings, and office equipment.
Several government departments have stands at the expo, as does the JSE, the Johannesburg stock exchange (JSE); and City-supported entities like Vukani-Ubuntu, Destiny Skincare and Di-Queen. Exhibiting countries include China, Japan, India, and Brazil.
Saitex is organised by Kagiso Exhibitions and the Department of Trade and Industry. It runs at Gallagher Estate in Midrand until Friday 19 October; trade times are from 10am to 6pm daily and admission is free.
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