Export opportunities galore for Jozi’s SMMEs – MMC Mathang
26 February 2016
Emerging agricultural and agro-processing businesses are reaping significant commercial rewards from several strategic opportunities and interventions driven by the City of Johannesburg.
The City and its fresh produce entity, the Joburg Market – working in partnership with the Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA), Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, national Department of Trade and Industry and the Growth Development Agency – on Wednesday February 24 hosted an Exporter Awareness Day, the first in a series of such interactions.
The Exporter Awareness Programme aims to create awareness and business opportunities for entrepreneurs and broaden South Africa’s exporter base in the agricultural and agro-processing sector by developing new and existing exporters.
“We have had remarkable results from City-driven business interventions and programmes and are actively seeking exporters to further extend these and increase the pool of export-ready companies in Johannesburg,” said Member of the Mayoral Committee for Economic Development Councillor Ruby Mathang.
“There are valuable strategic export opportunities for the taking,” he said.
MMC Mathang said through collaborations and the creation of economies of scale among African nations, the continent would be positioned to play a bigger role in the global economy and claim a larger share of the case.
“Within the increasingly globalised world order, we need to asset ourselves and ensure that we take advantage of the opportunity to export our products to markets outside our borders. For it to be fully empowering and able to bring about economic changes in the lives of the continent’s people, trade among African countries needs to be strengthened and increased.
As the City of Johannesburg we’ve developed a set of multidimensional economic strategy interventions, which harness synergies and dependencies to gain growth traction and build transformative momentum,” said MMC Mathang.
David Osaro, Managing Director of Edo Fresh and the Nelson Mandela People’s Market, attested to the highly successful networking opportunities created through the City’s strategic involvement in business expos, meetings and interventions.
Osaro came to Johannesburg from Nigeria 24 years ago to start what has now become a highly successful international export business.
“It was tough but today I can say I’m a very good exporter of high quality produce. Networking opportunities and interventions created by the City are invaluable and have really changed my business. My produce now makes its way to as far as Zambia, Nigeria, Thailand, Qatar and Japan. The Nelson Mandela People’s Market has grown from empowering just four people to almost 500,” said Osaro.
He said Joburg Market’s support had been instrumental to its success. The company is located within the Joburg Market.
The City’s Economic Development Department’s Trade and Investment Directorate and its partners, including V4 member countries, will host the Joburg Market Exporter Awareness initiative on 5-6 April 2016.
The two-day agricultural and agro-processing trade and investment seminar and business-to-business match-making session will enable local producers and suppliers to showcase their goods and services for the export market and investment opportunities.
Reginald Pholo, the department’s Director of Trade and Investment Promotion, has invited entrepreneurs and businesses to submit proposal briefs to be profiled at the show. Pholo said several international buyers and investors from as far as Poland, Hong Kong and Germany had already confirmed their attendance.
For inquiries contact Yvonne Tshweu on (011) 703-5164 or email yvonnetsh@joburg.org.za.