Innovation is critical in opening export markets for SA businesses
The South African government is willing to do everything possible to support local businesses and give them access to export markets all over the world.
This was said by the Chief Director of Strategic Partnerships and Customer Care at the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic), Ms Tsepiso Makgothi. She was speaking to entrepreneurs who attended the wokshop hosted at the Nelson Mandela Bay iHub in Gqeberha, to promote the dtic’s Support Programme for Industrial Innovation (SPII).
the dtic is focusing on initiatives aimed at increasing job creation, especially for the youth and the SPII is a vehicle through which globally competitive, innovation-driven businesses in the ICT sector could be established, supported and developed.
The programme is designed to promote technological advancements and innovations in South Africa through providing financial assistance for the development of new products and processes.
Makgothi said included in the government’s drive to open up markets for South African business is the commitment to fully utilise instruments such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (ACFTA) Agreement to the benefit of local enterprises and the economy.
“Innovation is the way to go to develop new sub-sectors and open up the market for South Africa. We should not be confined to where we currently are because the market in South Africa is quite small. It is important for us to do what it takes to support businesses that want to venture into the African market through the ACFTA as well as other global markets,” she said.
The SPII offers a grant of up to R5 million per project to support businesses, which are doing work at the early stages of developing a prototype. The funding is available to qualifying enterprises as a non-repayable grant.
Since its intergration to the dtic in 2015 from the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), 107 projects have been approved so far to the total of R296 million.
Makgothi encouraged entrepreneurs in attendance to be conscious of the endless possibilities in what they can contribute to the globe with their innovations.
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*** The South African Consul General in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Mr Andrew Lebona with the Founder of Makhamisa Foods and a Black Industrialists programme beneficiary Mr Terence Leluma ***
The South African Consul General in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) Mr Andrew Lebona has described the UAE market as important, interesting and wealthy. According to him, the market opens up the Gulf region market and South African businesspeople should take advantage of the opportunities it offers. He said this during his walkabout at the South African pavilion at the Gulfood exhibition in Dubai.
The pavilion has been set-up by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic). The show started on Monday and will continue until Friday, 24 February 2023.
“Utilising the UAE as a springboard will give you access to Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Oman. This region imports 95% of its foodstuff as they are desert areas and cannot plant and grow vegetables and citrus. The food and beverage business is immense in the Gulf region and this is a destination for tourism, people eat out to experience good food. This presents an opportunity for the South African agro-processing products,” said Lebona.
Lebona wished the businesspeople a successful show and advised them to follow up on leads acquired during the show. Importantly, he said South Africa should bring more companies to the 2024 show to experience and access the Gulf region and global markets.
The Founder of Makhamisa Foods and a Black Industrialists Programme beneficiary, Mr Terence Leluma, who manufactures unique chilli-based condiments, is part of the SA delegation. According to him, the show has been good and his company’s products are receiving huge interest from countries such as Russia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, India and African countries such as Malawi and Kenya.
“We are excited for this kind of exposure and the reception our products are receiving. This will indeed put our products on the map. We currently supply our own brand to Pick ‘n Pay and Checkers. We are also contract packing for Bidfood, Empact, Galitos, and Famous Brands,” said Leluma.
Gulfood is regarded as the largest food and beverage trade exhibition in the Middle East. It attracts a large number of participants from the Middle East and the world at large. It is estimated that the event will also attract more than 100 000 attendees from the Middle East region, Africa and Asia. Gulfood 2023 is showcasing products such as fresh produce and vegetables, dairy, beverages, seafood, grains and cereals, pulses, fats and oils, cooking ingredients and snacks.
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Johannesburg-Based Powder Drink Manufacturer Generates Strong Leads at UAE Exhibition
*** The Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Johannesburg-based Molly’s Food Enterprise, Ms Lerato Nonyane excited about the trade leads she is generating in Dubai, talking to one of the visitors to her stand ***
The Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Johannesburg-based Molly’s Food Enterprise, Ms Lerato Nonyane who manufactures powder drink products, including their bestselling Molly’s ginger drink, describes her participation at the Gulfood exhibition in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), as the best. This is due to the fact that her company’s products are receiving enormous interest at the trade fair.
Nonyane is part of a business delegation comprising sixteen agro-processing firms showcasing products at the Gulfood, which started yesterday and will continue until Friday, 24 February 2023.
The companies’ participation has been made possible by the Department of Trade Industry and Competition (the dtic) that has set up national pavilions at the two trade shows where the South African companies are exhibiting their products.
According to Nonyane, her products are not only receiving interest from the UAE, but also from Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Malaysia and Russia.
“I am excited and overwhelmed about the interest. The leads I am receiving are pleasing. I have given out samples and price lists. I hope these leads will translate into business transactions,” said Nonyane.
According to her, the company is small and the exposure it is getting through the show will without a doubt help it grow. She said as an emerging exporter she is learning a lot and the export training she received is bearing fruits. She further described the exhibition as the best experience. She added that attending one more exhibition will help the company get the export markets they require and can employ more people.
“We supply 30 Pick ‘n Pay stores in South Africa and we are making headway in the country. We have a footprint in Cape Town, Kwa-Zulu Natal, Gauteng, Western Cape and Eastern Cape and are currently talking to Food Lovers Market. We are optimist that we will soon supply them with our products. If we secure funding, we can be number one powder drink manufacturer in the country,” expressed Nonyane.
Gulfood is regarded as the largest food and beverage trade exhibition in the Middle East. It attracts a large number of participants from the Middle East and the world at large.
According to the Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Mr Fikile Majola the show is expected to expose South African companies to available opportunities in the UAE as well as creating awareness for South African products in the Middle East in general.
“South Africa’s participation in the Dubai Expo 2020, which was part of our efforts to revive the economy and create opportunities for inclusive growth, paved a way to further unlock opportunities by leveraging more trade events in the region, such as Gulfood, which offers a follow-through opportunity for South African firms,” said Majola.
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the dtic to Promote Technology Innovation Support Programme to Gqeberha Businesses
The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) will host a wokshop on the the Support Programme for Industrial Innovation (SPII) – a programme designed to promote technology development in South Africa. The workshop will take place at the Nelson Mandela Bay iHub in Gqeberha on Wednesday, 22 February 2023 from 10:00
The SPII is mainly aimed at providing financial assistance for the development of innovative products and processes, with a specific focus on the development phase. This phase begins at the conclusion of basic research and ends at the point when a pre-production prototype has been produced. SPII consists of two sub-programmes, namely Product, Process Dvelopment Programme (PPD) and Matching Scheme (MS).
Up to R5 million is available to qualifying enterprises and this is offered as a non-repayable grant.
The programme was previously administered by the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC). In 2015, the programme was integrated into the dtic. This was done so as to enhance and streamline the industrial focus and support offered to the industry, thus enabling the dtic to strengthen its relationship with beneficiaries of the programme. In 2021 a review of the programme was initiated, and this resulted in the SPII Improvement Plan that is currently being implemented.
The Chief Director of Strategic Partnerships and Customer Care at the dtic, Ms Tsepiso Makgothi says since its intergration to the dtic in 2015, 107 projects have been approved so far to the total of R296 million.
She adds: “The objective of tomorrow’s workshop is to promote SPII to stakeholders and eligible entities, so they are able to apply and to contribute to the economy through innovation; promote collaboration between business and government in relation to innovation, and position the dtic as a catalyst and contributor to innovation.”
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SA Products Attracting Significant Interest AT UAE Exhibitions
*** The Managing Director of Cape Town-based Global Cuisine, Ms Samreen Kumandan showcasing at the Gulfood exhibition in Dubai ***
The South African businesspeople who are in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to participate in two high-profile exhibitions say their proudly South African products are receiving significant interest and are registering good trade leads at both shows.
A business delegation comprising sixteen agro-processing firms is showcasing products in the Gulfood exhibition in Dubai, while eleven companies that operate in the defence sector is participating in the International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX) that is taking place in Abu Dhabi. Both international exhibitions started yesterday and will continue until Friday, 24 February 2023.
The companies’ participation has been made possible by the Department of Trade Industry and Competition (the dtic) that has set up national pavilions at the two trade shows where the South African companies are exhibiting their products.
The Managing Director of Cape Town-based Jacobs Jam company, Mr Nigel Jacobs says his company’s products have already recorded interest from countries like the UAE, Saudi Arabia and India, who have shown interest to import the jams. The company manufactures high quality jam products that are sold all over South Africa and Zambia.
The Managing Director of Cape Town based Global Cuisine, Ms Samreen Kumandan says as a company that is growing, participating in the exhibition and showcasing on a global platform will hopefully assist her increase her business footprint soon.
“The show is offering an opportunity to make connections with distributors and buyers in the UAE and the global market. It is exciting to exhibit the company’s delicious savoury snacks, which is a common food in the UAE. We are receiving promising leads and will be following up on them so they can translate into business transactions,” says Kumandan.
The Sales and Marketing Manager of Unipro Protective Wear, Ms Mpho Mankge says the first day of IDEX was a real eye opener for her as she is participating in an international exhibition outside South Africa for the first time.
“Our products attracted quite a significant amount of interest amongst people from various countries who sought more information about our company and products. We have a promising lead from a company based in Mali and we are already making arrangements for a follow up meeting soon. We have been working hard to break into the export market and it looks like our dream will finally become a reality as a result of being here,” adds an elated Mankge.
The Business Development Director of Shrike Marine, Ms Rhi Cuthrie expressed happiness that her company’s vehicle power management systems were catching the eyes of directors of many other companies that are also exhibiting other products at IDEX.
Gulfood is regarded as the largest food and beverage trade exhibition in the Middle East. It attracts a large number of participants from the Middle East and the world at large. IDEX is the only international trade show in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region showcasing the latest technologies in land, sea and air sectors of defence.
The UAE remains the main destination for South African goods in the region, as reflected by the consistent increase of exports. Over the past 10 years, SA’s exports to the UAE grew from R8.6 billion in 2012 to R34 billion in 2021.
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Bongani Lukhele – Director: Media Relations
Tel: (012) 394 1643
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E-mail: BLukhele@thedtic.gov.za
Issued by: The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic)
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The Managing Director of Cape Town-based Global Cuisine, Ms Samreen Kumandan showcasing at the Gulfood exhibition in Dubai.