8
T R A D E & I N V E S T M E N T K W A Z U L U - N A T A L E X P O R T W E E K 2 0 1 4 HOT OFF THE PRESS T he production of exports is critical for foreign ex- change earnings, busi- ness growth and job creation, and we believe - no, we know - that the province of KwaZu- lu-Natal has all of the neces- sary ingredients to transform its economy into a world-beater. From policy perspective to infrastructure, all the elements necessary for economic growth are in place. It is now up to the role-players and stakeholders to ensure that we utilise this confluence of favourable factors to build an economy to benefit everyone. The rest of Africa happens to be the largest, and a massive, untapped market. There are more than a billion consumers up there, and if local business- es don’t take advantage of this growing market, they will be overtaken and left behind by other countries, which are already establishing themselves on the continent. We need to make hay while the sun shines. Exporting is tough, initially. Ironing out the processes, establishing a market elsewhere, enduring the rigorous channels necessary to set up the operation, all require time, energy, funds and per- severance. But in the end, it is worth it. This annual Export Week sem- inar, of which we are very proud here in KwaZulu-Natal, and which has become an important date on the city’s business di- ary, is designed to educate and create awareness of the export industry, as well as establish linkages for potential and exist- ing exporters and industries. We can no longer afford to sit back and sell to the man next door. The time has come to ex- pand, to look beyond our Indian Ocean horizon or our mountain ranges, to markets that will boost our economy and help create a sustainable future for our province and our people. We have enormous infra- structural advantages in this province. KwaZulu-Natal has the honour of being home to South Africa’s second largest economy, and situated on the important east coast, we also have two of Africa’s major seaports: Durban, which is Africa’s busiest port and leading Southern Hemisphere container terminal, and Richards Bay, recognised as South Africa’s largest deep-water harbour and primary bulk commodities handling facility. The city is also very proud of the thriving Dube TradePort project, the heart of a budding aerotropolis developing around King Shaka International Airport. We live in an age of intense globalisation, and increasing- ly, countries around the world are competing more and more robustly for a greater slice of the market to grow their econ- omies. Regions which strive to become fast and agile places in which to do business and which display superior connectivity will most certainly attract new and additional investment, so becoming commercial success stories into the future. We have high hopes for our aerotropolis, and the KwaZulu-Natal provincial government has mandated Dube TradePort Corporation to aggressively pursue an air services and route development strategy. We understand that hard infrastructure is critical to building a functional and efficient region, so providing an efficient, well-planned region with adequate road and rail con- nectivity, both for passengers as well as freight, has become critical to its development. The public sector development of such transport infrastructure along Aerotropolis KwaZu- lu-Natal’s spine will result in enhanced levels of investment, opening the door to extensive new business opportunities for the region and its people. Air carriage is also a fa- cilitator. A case in point of a seamless relationship between business and air freight is Car- mel Nurseries, which is growing cut flowers within Dube Agri- Zone. The project is inclusive of a recent commitment to grow the Thai Tulip, a tropical plant native to northern Thailand. The Thai Tulips grown in one of Dube AgriZone’s greenhouses were to meet a first interna- tional contract obligation. This involved the growth, to exacting standards, and export, of some 30,000 flowers to Amsterdam, in the Netherlands, every week between October and March, this being the Dutch off-season. This international export illustrates not only the interest in developing the region and the level of demand already evident, but the ability of role players to work together for a common goal: the initiation of a climate conducive for investment, business develop- ment and product export, like our Thai Tulips, all of which will lead to the expansion and growth of KwaZulu-Natal’s regional economy. Ladies and gentlemen, our economies and our businesses can bloom just as beautifully if we all make a concerted effort to plant our export potential roots just as deeply and then watch them flourish! MESSAGE FROM MEC MICHAEL MABUYAKHULU KWAZULU-NATAL HAS ALL THE NECESSARY ELEMENTS TO COMPETE GLOBALLY Mr Michael Mabuyakhulu MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs KZN Export Week 2014 • 17-20 November 2014 e d t ea Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs PROVINCE OF KWAZULU-NATAL

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Page 1: TIKZN Export Week Tabloid 2014

TR

AD

E & IN

VESTMENT KWAZULU-NATA

L

EXPORT WEEK 2

014

HOT OFF

THE PRESS

The production of exports is critical for foreign ex-change earnings, busi-

ness growth and job creation, and we believe - no, we know - that the province of KwaZu-lu-Natal has all of the neces-sary ingredients to transform its economy into a world-beater.

From policy perspective to infrastructure, all the elements necessary for economic growth are in place. It is now up to the role-players and stakeholders to ensure that we utilise this confluence of favourable factors to build an economy to benefit everyone.

The rest of Africa happens to be the largest, and a massive, untapped market. There are more than a billion consumers up there, and if local business-

es don’t take advantage of this growing market, they will be overtaken and left behind by other countries, which are already establishing themselves on the continent.

We need to make hay while the sun shines. Exporting is tough, initially. Ironing out the processes, establishing a market elsewhere, enduring the rigorous channels necessary to set up the operation, all require time, energy, funds and per-severance. But in the end, it is worth it.

This annual Export Week sem-inar, of which we are very proud here in KwaZulu-Natal, and which has become an important date on the city’s business di-ary, is designed to educate and create awareness of the export industry, as well as establish linkages for potential and exist-ing exporters and industries.

We can no longer afford to sit back and sell to the man next door. The time has come to ex-pand, to look beyond our Indian Ocean horizon or our mountain ranges, to markets that will boost our economy and help create a sustainable future for our province and our people.

We have enormous infra-structural advantages in this province. KwaZulu-Natal has the honour of being home to South Africa’s second largest economy, and situated on the important east coast, we also have two of Africa’s major

seaports: Durban, which is Africa’s busiest port and leading Southern Hemisphere container terminal, and Richards Bay, recognised as South Africa’s largest deep-water harbour and primary bulk commodities handling facility. The city is also very proud of the thriving Dube TradePort project, the heart of a budding aerotropolis developing around King Shaka International Airport.

We live in an age of intense globalisation, and increasing-ly, countries around the world are competing more and more robustly for a greater slice of the market to grow their econ-omies. Regions which strive to become fast and agile places in which to do business and which display superior connectivity will most certainly attract new and additional investment, so becoming commercial success stories into the future.

We have high hopes for our aerotropolis, and the KwaZulu-Natal provincial government has mandated Dube TradePort Corporation to aggressively pursue an air services and route development strategy.

We understand that hard infrastructure is critical to building a functional and efficient region, so providing an efficient, well-planned region with adequate road and rail con-nectivity, both for passengers

as well as freight, has become critical to its development. The public sector development of such transport infrastructure along Aerotropolis KwaZu-lu-Natal’s spine will result in enhanced levels of investment, opening the door to extensive new business opportunities for the region and its people.

Air carriage is also a fa-cilitator. A case in point of a seamless relationship between business and air freight is Car-mel Nurseries, which is growing cut flowers within Dube Agri-Zone. The project is inclusive of a recent commitment to grow the Thai Tulip, a tropical plant native to northern Thailand. The Thai Tulips grown in one of Dube AgriZone’s greenhouses were to meet a first interna-

tional contract obligation. This involved the growth, to exacting standards, and export, of some 30,000 flowers to Amsterdam, in the Netherlands, every week between October and March, this being the Dutch off-season.

This international export illustrates not only the interest in developing the region and the level of demand already evident, but the ability of role players to work together for a common goal: the initiation of a climate conducive for investment, business develop-ment and product export, like our Thai Tulips, all of which will lead to the expansion and growth of KwaZulu-Natal’s regional economy.

Ladies and gentlemen, our economies and our businesses can bloom just as beautifully if we all make a concerted effort to plant our export potential roots just as deeply and then watch them flourish!

MESSAGE FROM MEC MICHAEL MABUYAKHULU

KwAzULU-nAtAL HAS ALL tHE nECESSARY ELEMEntS tO COMpEtE GLOBALLY

Mr Michael MabuyakhuluMEC for Economic

Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs

KZN Export Week 2014 • 17-20 November 2014

edteaEconomic Development, Tourism andEnvironmental Affairs

PROVINCE OF KWAZULU-NATAL

Page 2: TIKZN Export Week Tabloid 2014

K Z N E X P O R T W E E K 2 0 1 42

They are many, and varied. As a prominent prov-ince in a country that prides itself on its global competitiveness, KwaZulu-Natal is the gateway

to other African countries, as well as being home to South Africa’s largest two ports, Durban and Richards Bay.

With its diverse culture, massive labour pool, af-fordable land and building costs, and its world-class transport and telecommunications infrastructure, KwaZulu-Natal adds to its list of advantages its idyllic climate, which distinguishes it from the rest of the country.

South Africa not only gives companies and business-es the opportunity to source their inputs at very com-petitive prices, but also a domestic market for their products and services. Investors can use the country, and particularly KwaZulu-Natal with its excellent infra-structure and logistics mechanisms, as a gateway to take products and services to the rest of Africa.

Long-established ties have been developed with South Africa’s top trading partners and other impor-tant focus markets, with double taxation agreements and memoranda of understanding signed with various countries. Growing increasingly important as a trading partner of the European Union, South Africa is addi-tionally a full member of the World Trade Organisation, while strong political and economic links within the African continent and membership of the Southern African Development Community offer trading oppor-tunities within southern Africa.

As a province spread over some 94,361m sq, KwaZulu-Natal offers a wide range of these trading and investment opportunities, in diverse fields. With the highest export propensity and the highest level of industrialisation in the country, its economic structure is based on a large manufacturing sector in which growth is driven by the paper and paper products industry, and ferro-alloys (like aluminium) and other chemicals.

As a region in a country that lists among its strengths its outstanding performance in financial market development, the accountability of private institutions and the effectiveness of its competition policies, KwaZulu-Natal takes pride in boasting the second largest economy in South Africa: it contributes about 16% towards the national GDP. Manufacturing, trade, business services and transport communica-tions are the largest and strongest growth sectors of the provincial economy.

The emergence of the Kingdom of the Zulus as a hub of industrial development in sub-Saharan Africa can be attributed to its unmatched natural resource en-dowments, exceptional productive capacity, well-de-veloped first-world infrastructure and advantageous coastal location. Economic activity is concentrated in the metropolitan areas of Durban, Pietermaritzburg and Richards Bay, with the coastal belts known for their thriving sugar cane plantations and subtropical fruit and vegetables.

Apart from its two well-used sea ports, KwaZulu-Na-tal is also the home of the world class King Shaka International Airport and the Dube TradePort, providing a key competitive advantage and ensuring the prov-ince’s importance for economic growth, effectively repositioning the country to increase its share of the global market.

Investors need look no further than this magic province, with its friendly, hospitable citizens and its wealth of opportunities.

GOOD REASOnS tO DO BUSInESS In KwAzULU-nAtAL

Port of Richards Bay

Durban Port

Dube TradePort Spaghetti Junction

Page 3: TIKZN Export Week Tabloid 2014

K Z N E X P O R T W E E K 2 0 1 43

For South Africans want-ing to explore the export market, there are now

several government pro-grammes that will offer support at levels previously unavailable.

This support ranges from financial grants to subsidy of plant and manufacturing facil-ities to facilitation of business processes. The services offered by national government to South African companies who are approaching export read-iness are generally delivered through provincial agents like TIKZN in KwaZulu-Natal.

A wealth of valuable infor-mation and help is offered to novice exporters, for instance, company registration, customs procedures, export registration and process - as well as access to incentives for which they qualify. International trading protocols such as Incoterms are explained, and consultants with strategic experience in export-

ing provide their services free of charge.

There’s more. Details of vari-ous export facilitation services - like logistics, for instance - are also made available. To expose South African prod-ucts and services to the global community, TIKZN leads outgo-ing trade missions to potential export destinations, hosts an online trade facilitation service, conducts workshops - and provides market intelligence so that exporters can assess the likelihood of success of their planned exports.

It couldn’t be easier.

Sweetening the pot to encour-age businesses to set up shop, expand, and then export, are various incentives like the Small & Medium Enterprise Develop-ment Programme, or SMEDP. This is a grant paid to local and foreign investors starting

up new or expanding current projects, based on approved qualifying assets and activities.

The maximum qualifying investment is R100 million per entity. The grant is for two years on qualifying assets. An additional one-year (year three) investment grant for the human resource intensity can be provided. It has given the tourism industry a major boost in the form of a lucrative cash-based, tax-free incentive benefit designed to generate employ-ment and create opportunities for the introduction of new and advanced skills.

The aim of the programme is to encourage new projects and the expansion of existing ones, by subsidising the cost of the investment, training and of transporting equipment from abroad.

There’s also the EMIA or Ex-port Marketing and Investment Assistance Scheme, which par-

tially compensate exporters for certain costs incurred through activities aimed at developing export markets for South Afri-can products and to recruit new foreign direct investment into South Africa. EMIA offers ex-porters financial assistance with market research, trade missions and showcasing products and services at international exhi-bitions.

Also offered is a Skills Sup-port Programme (SSP), a cash grant for skills development with the objective of encour-aging greater investment in training and creating opportuni-ties for the introduction of new advanced skills.

This will benefit investors involved in manufacturing, high-value agricultural projects, agro-processing, aquaculture, biotechnology, tourism, IT and communication technology, recycling and the culture indus-tries.

A maximum of 50% of the training costs, the development of training curricula and land or buildings related to train-ing and up to 30% of the total salaries of the companies will be granted, where the training programme is approved.

Regarding international incen-tives, the SA-EU Trade Agree-ment decreases the average duty paid on imports to South Africa from the European Union from the current 24% to 19% in the first year, and to 8% in year eight. The average duty on textile and clothing exports from South Africa to the European Union has decreased to 5% in year one and will decrease to 0% in year seven.

The USA’s African Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA) grants duty-free access to African textile and clothing manufactur-ers, and has seen South African clothing exports to the US jump 60% to more than R1.2 billion.

LEt tHE EXpERtS GUIDE YOU

Mr Richard Cookson - Garlicke & Bousfield

Mr Neville Matjie, General Manager: Office of the CEO - Trade & Investment KwaZulu-Natal

Donny Pethan General Manager: Business Retention and Expansion for Trade & Investment KwaZulu-Natal

Mr Zamo Gwala, CEO - Trade & Investment KwaZulu-Natal

Mr Lester Bouah - Executive Manager: Export Development and Promotion - Trade & Investment

KwaZulu-Natal

MEC Mr Michael Mabuyakhulu, MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs

Page 4: TIKZN Export Week Tabloid 2014

K Z N E X P O R T W E E K 2 0 1 44

EXpORt AwAREnESS

Subashni Pillay, Claude Moodley, Donny Pethan and Vivian Pillay

People at the conference listening to the speakers

Lendl Thavarayan, Ahmed Jaffer and Andrew Fenwick

Seen at KZN Export Week at the Riverside Con-ference Centre Wayne Oliver, Gary Biggings,

Nerisha Jairaj and Lester Bouah

Mohammed Khan, Frans van Aardt and Kasturie Maharaj

James Mogale and Morgan Funde

Heshana and Satendra Naidoo Riedwaan Ahmed and Azad Seedat

Allan Pillai and Fiona Roden

Lance Woolley and Thandi MafundaSiko Maponya, Mpho Matjele, Thakhani Netsharotha, and Stephen Ntsoane

Clive Phillpotts, Analeah Royeppen and Richard Cookson

Export Essentials, Lousia Garland-Els and Jean-Michel Marnoto

Launch of Export Portal and Directory Denzil Curtis and Farai Moyo

Winner of a Scholarship for Regent Business School Heshana Naidoo, Prof Dhiro Soni and Claude Moodley

Monique de Wet, Lionel Dwyer and Linda-Jo Andre

Page 5: TIKZN Export Week Tabloid 2014

K Z N E X P O R T W E E K 2 0 1 45

LAUnCH OF tHE EXpORt pORtAL

Nokuzola Dlangalala and Thobeka Shabangu

USA Consulate Suzanne Yountchi and Guest Speaker Frances Chisholm,

Consul General

Perusha Govender, Deven Naidoo, Donnee Kruger, Clive Phillpotts and

Analeah Poyeppen

Ridwaan Asvat, Lester Bouah, and Prof. Dhiry Soni

Lindeka Ngubane, Hashila Daya, Donnee Kruger, Perusha Govender

and Analeah Poyeppen

Lester Bouah, Desmond Golding and Neville Matjie

Jessica Slater, guest Speaker Mike Tarr and Myriam Velia

Thembelihle Ndlovu, Sibongile Nxumalo and Ayanda Zuma

Seen at the Export Conference at the DICC is Lester Bouah, Zamo Gwala, MEC Michael Mabuyakhulu, Frances

Chisholm, and Desmond Golding

Denzil and Denise Curtis, Claude Moodley and Praline Ross

Lendl Thavarayan, Jervsha Reddy and Bonga Dlamini

Guest speakers Mande Kauseni and Paul Runge

Sean Khumalo, Jeanine Lyyavu, Serusha Singh and Fuzel Umerji

Zamo Gwala, Ayanda Zuma, Thembelihle Ndlovu and Akash Singh

Launch of Export Portal and Directory Farai Moyo

Launch of Export Portal and Directory Denzil Curtis

Stephen Ntsoane, Mohammed Khan and Riedwaan Ahmed

Launch of Export Portal and Directory Zeph Nhleko

Page 6: TIKZN Export Week Tabloid 2014

K Z N E X P O R T W E E K 2 0 1 46

There are so many rea-sons why KwaZulu-Natal should increase its ex-

port base. And, for that matter, why the whole country should work towards this goal.

Exporting your products can help to put idle production capacity to work, lower your unit costs ,which represents a more productive overall opera-tion, and contribute to a firm’s overall profitability. It’s also an excellent way to enjoy pure economies of scale with prod-ucts that are more “global” in scope and have a wider range

of acceptance worldwide.Being bound to only your do-

mestic market can be risky - so export sales to various foreign markets can reduce the risks a company might face regard-ing local and foreign business fluctuations.

Michael Mabuyakhulu, MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Af-fairs, says the province regards its export sector “as one of the critical pillars underpinning its economic growth trajectory”.

“As such, it is the intention of the KwaZulu-Natal government

to stimulate export activity through constant and sustained support for our exporters within the province, while simulta-neously identifying new and additional export opportunities.”

The annual and much an-ticipated Export Week is the perfect platform from which to explore, research, identify and focus on new avenues of export, he added.

Coordinated and hosted by TIKZN (Trade & Investment KwaZulu-Natal), it has been de-signed to offer a comprehensive and informative week relevant

to anyone with export links or potential.

Through the business ses-sions, the lively panel discus-sions, the exchange of ideas, and the networking opportu-nities, the target has been for delegates and stakeholders to recognise, promote, and help to grow the province’s export business and industries. A full programme of activities and ex-perts in their fields has provided invaluable information on and guidance to existing as well as new and potential exporters.

Exports, and growing the

province’s potential in this are-na, are crucial to our economy. A strong international trade sec-tor is essential for jobs growth and a strong and competitive KZN economy. In tough eco-nomic times, it is vital that new entrants are encouraged and existing exporters are assisted to grow their businesses and develop new markets.

Export Week was created for those very reasons: to help meet the critical educational and mentoring needs of Kwa-Zulu-Natal SMEs doing interna-tional trade.

Added the MEC: “The event has brought together government representatives, bank-ers, captains of indus-try and large export companies, who have mingled together, and discussed dissected current and future ex-ports from the province but also, importantly, specific opportunities in new markets.

“Our role as the De-partment of Economic Development Tourism and Environmental Affairs is to ensure an environment conducive to business is creat-ed, as well as making available all the neces-sary tools for provincial businesses to thrive both domestically and on a global scale. Export Week is an annual event of which we are very proud, and we hope that the experience has been a fulfilling - and in the future, a lucrative -one for everyone who has attended and taken part.”

tHE IMpORtAnCE OF EXpORtS

Exporting our province’s commodities to other markets is crucial for our economy in KwaZulu-Natal. For smaller companies, organising sales to various foreign markets can reduce the risks related to local and foreign business fluctuations. Exporting your products can also lower unit costs.

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Page 7: TIKZN Export Week Tabloid 2014

K Z N E X P O R T W E E K 2 0 1 47

This week, stakeholders and delegates will have absorbed prodigious

amounts of knowledge regard-ing the world of exporting: the pros and cons, the myths and realities, the documentation and red tape, the role of women in the business, new and emerg-ing African export markets, and also success stories.

Leaders in industry and gov-ernment will have shared their views and expertise, forged new ties, and unpacked plans and blueprints for increasing export trade from the province.

Mention might have been made of the Durban Chamber of

Commerce & Industry’s Memo of Understanding signed earlier this year with Garlicke & Bous-field to unite in encouraging international business activity in Durban.

Durban Chamber CEO Andrew Layman will tell you this is going to be achieved by helping provide international market access to local companies as well as relevant information to SMMEs. Business skills will also be sharpened up and improved to enhance the competitiveness of South African businesses in the global marketplace.

The Memorandum of Un-derstanding will allow the two

parties to strengthen Durban’s capacity for international busi-ness by jointly organised Export Readiness Seminars; an Inter-national Business Mentorship programme, a Legal, HR and Accounting Toolkit (for SMMEs) and monthly international busi-ness dialogue sessions.

Paul Runge, MD of Africa Project Access, who facilitat-ed the session on Emerging African Export Markets, has shared practical information on formulating new strategies for business in Africa, and how to access donor funding. His com-pany supplies some 160 firms and organisations with early

alerts of projects across a broad range of sectors in Sub-Saharan Africa, so he certainly knows his markets - as do the panelists and esteemed representatives from Ghana, Kenya and the Democratic Republic of Congo, who have spotlighted export opportunities in their countries. From Kenya, Rose Masita, Second Councillor of the High Commission, specialises in the commercial and trade arenas, is well qualified to speak, having spent 15 years in the country’s trade ministry.

On the issue of freight lo-gistics, Ricky Pillay, customs manager at Bidvest Panalpina Logistics in Durban (responsible for managing compliance with legislation governing import and export activities) will have educated future importers on the complexity of customs and other governmental legislative compliance in international supply chain logistics.

A highlight of the week - for the province of KwaZulu-Natal - will have been the launch of the new export portal and directory, which will be an invaluable tool, and delegates will also have eagerly learned about export opportunities elsewhere in Afri-ca as well as in South East Asia.

Thanks to the digital revolu-

tion, the information highway has transformed the world into a global village: potential exporters will have information at their fingertips on new trends and statistical information, and acquired that all-important information on standards and funding.

TIKZN held the inaugural Export Week in 2012. It was then agreed by MEC Michael Mabuyakhulu that the event would be held annually. The week-long affair seeks to rec-ognise, promote and assist with growing KwaZulu-Natal’s export businesses and industries.

“Export Week is developed to boost the profile of the prov-ince’s exporters, and provide an opportunity to grow and sustain business operations. It is an essential way of contributing to the business community’s awareness of the crucial role those exporters play in Kwa-Zulu-Natal’s and South Africa’s economy,” said Zamo Gwala, CEO of TIKZN. “We are thrilled that each successive year has boasted stronger involvement of the private sector, the Depart-ment of Trade and Industry (DTI) and export finance agencies.”

The possibilities, for potential exporters in the province, are plentiful. The time is now...

THE ESSENTIALS OF EXPORTING

KwaZulu-Natal’s annual Export Week has proved to be one of the province’s foremost platforms from which to promote trade and, in particular,

increase the volume of exports. The event showcases local firms and entrepreneurs, and strives towards encouraging the production of higher quality goods and first class services at lower prices. At the inaugu-ral event in 2012, Trade & Investment KwaZulu-Natal launched the Export 101 booklet, a practical guide to the process of exporting.

In pursuit of the entity’s mandate, TIKZN was able to facilitate nine major investments in the province worth R1.4 billion in the 2012/13 financial year, ranging from the ICTE, manufacturing, tourism and chemical sectors to agro-processing and creative.

MEC Michael Mabuyakhulu, from the Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environ-mental Affairs, believes this excellent performance, if the adverse global economic conditions are taken into consideration, is a direct result of highlighting the comparative and competitive advantages of the province.

“These interventions include,” he said, “but are not limited to, the introduction of the Investment Protocol literature which acted as an enabler for investors as well as the aforementioned Export 101 booklet.”

He said the continuing popularity of Export Week would undoubtedly boost the province’s export poten-tial and markets.

EXPORT WEEK A WINNER

Durban - International Convention Centre (ICC)

YOU’RE AN EXPERT IN YOUR BUSINESSWE’RE EXPERTS AT OURS.

YOU’RE AN EXPERT IN YOUR BUSINESS. WE’RE EXPERTS AT OURS.

Let’s face it. No one understands your business better than you do. That’s why, if you want expert advice and support on doing business in KwaZulu-Natal, you will turn to Trade & Investment KwaZulu-Natal, because no one understands our business better than we do. When it comes to doing business in KwaZulu-Natal, we offer expert advice and support on all aspects of investment promotion, export development and promotion, business retention and expansion.

We can help you with the facilitation of joint ventures and business linkages between small and big business; the provision of relevant, reliable information to investors and traders; assistance with applications for investment incentives and export marketing incentives; assistance to foreign investors with applications for business permits; negotiation of local government incentives on behalf of investors; provision of project support and aftercare services; assistance to merging international traders and with international trade enquiries; Assisting investors to locate suitable premises and to secure

w w w . t i k z n . c o . z a

Trade and Investment House1 Arundel Close

Durban, 4001, South AfricaPO Box 4245, Durban, 4000+27 (0) 31 368 9600+27 (0) 31 368 [email protected]

Durban Office Gauteng Office

99 George Storrar AvenueGroenkloof, Pretoria+27 (0) 12 346 4386/6763+27 (0) 86 501 0848/[email protected]

Let’s face it, no one understands your business better than you do.That’s why, if you want expert advice and support on doing business in KwaZulu-Natal, you should turn to Trade & Investment KwaZulu-Natal, because no one understands our business better than we do. When it comes to doing business in our province, we offer expert advice and support on all aspects of investment promotion, export development and promotion, and business retention and expansion.

We can help you with the facilitation of joint ventures and linkages between investors and local business; the provision of relevant, reliable information to investors and traders; assistance with applications for investment incentives and export marketing incentives; assistance to foreign investors with applications for business permits; negotiation of local government incentives on behalf of investors; provision of project support and aftercare services; assistance to emerging international traders and with international trade enquiries; assisting investors to locate suitable premises and to secure project and operational financing.

R

Page 8: TIKZN Export Week Tabloid 2014

K Z N E X P O R T W E E K 2 0 1 48

A critical element of successful export-ing is those all-important trade shows. Garlicke & Bousfield adviser Richard

Cookson gave an illuminating presentation on trade show strategies earlier this week, during which he highlighted both basic yet oft ignored tenets as well as the intricacies of marketing the shows beforehand, exhibiting, the message you – as a trade show/stand organiser - intend to convey, how to add val-ue, the follow up protocol, and taking note of lessons learned, among much other valuable information.

Mr Richard Cookson

Cookson said the real works starts afterwards. “Effective and immediate follow-up is necessary. Respond, first, to all requests for information. The first person going home from the show needs to take all leads and assign them to the relevant sales channels. What follow up is required? Ideally, you should e-mail and telephone within two weeks of the show’s end. Do not allow any leads to fall by the wayside, and make sure you track all leads on the company sales management system.”

Post-show press releases should also be sent out, and a review held to find out what the market was saying about your product/show, what feedback was received from customers, what part of any demo dragged on for too long, and even what terminology made no sense.

MEASURABLE OBjECtIvES

tHREE MOntH tO GO

COMMUnICAtE

tHE DIFFEREnCES

OnE MOntH tO GO

SHOw EnDS

tIME

FOUR MOntH tO GO

pARtICIpAtIOn

AIMS OF SHOw/SEMInAR1

5

9

2

6

10

3

7

11

4

8

12

FUnDInG & RESEARCH

twO wEEKS

Understand purpose, time, objectives, logistics, costs, process and personnel

Is it cost effective? Determine audience; who should attend; is state funding available?

Shared funding in industry

Check and double-check booth/stand is arranged and as ordered; location of booth;

have you paid?

CHECKLISt

What your company aims to accomplish; number of qualified leads; booth visitors by target

audience; cover all angles

If you are exhibiting, are you listed correctly? Is your stated location on the map? Where are competitors situated? If attending, review who

you need to see

Take names instead of pushing brochures; take an interest in people; engage serious prospects

Goes quickly. Exhibitors’ lead times vary; time for marketing yourself. Prioritise

Review marketing materials; target media and “messages”; translate as necessary; start

promoting attendance; put event on website; communicate through existing sales channels

Arrive at the show on time; have sufficient brochures, business cards, and wear your

registration badge at all times; read the show directory, attend all relevant seminars (book

early); never eat or drink at your stand; always stand, not sit

Business etiquette; local culture; voltage; language and attire

Confirm booth/stand is ordered; location of booth equipment; have you paid?; staff rota and roles; if travel involved, is passport in

order? Travel insurance? Produce samples and brochures

Review: Identify learnings for future events; what could be improved? Did you have sufficient

supplies? Did booth location achieve desired footfall targets? Was the show the right vehicle

for the company to present its products and services?

MOntHSLEFt4

MOntHSLEFt3 MOntH

LEFt1

tHE EnD

MAKInG tRADE SHOwS wORK FOR YOU

Publisher:Trade & Investment KwaZulu-Natal

Editor:Ayanda Zuma

Layout & Design:MediaCom SA

Photography:Terry Haywood

Disclaimer:Every effort has been made to en-sure that the information was true and correct at the time of going to print.

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