By: Lungisa Somtombo
Small business owners were equipped with ways of growing their businesses through the Export industry at the Global Exporter Passport Development Training done by the Eastern Cape Development Corporation, working with the Department of Trade and Industry.
Linda Lubengu from the Buffalo City Helpdesk said the programme is geared at preparing SMMEs that have products that are ready for the global market.
Lubengu added that the Four-day training was about introducing the SMMEs to the Export market, help them develop their marketing plans and give them an opportunity of learning about African countries around them so that they can see possible opportunities for their products.
Trade and Industry South Africa(TISA) Assistant Director Mashupe City Phaahlamohlaka said TISA has a National Development export programme whose mandate is to capacitate companies with information on exporting so that when they are export-ready they know the process to follow.
“TISA has a mentoring program where companies that meet the requirements will be taken to Germany for four weeks to be mentored,” he said.
Speaking of her experience in the training, AET Africa Managing Director Sandiswa Qayi said she learned the importance of choosing the right partner for your exports, the importance of distribution and understanding your product.
“The only way to learn is to test the market and have tactics of how to deal with market challenges,” said Qayi.
She added that as AET Africa they are exploring the market in Ghana where they are testing their product. “We are in the process of concluding a Joint venture with a Ghanaian partner so this training is assisting me to double-check the processes I have to follow going into the export market,” she said.
Director of Elektro Green Power that deals with renewable energy, Yandile Njokweni said in his business he imports his products, purchases some locally and export them to their clients.
Expressing the help this training brings to his business Njokweni said, this training was very relevant as it taught us that a product should not only be big in South Africa but should also go to other countries as well.
“Renewable energy is needed everywhere, other countries don’t have PV Solar manufacturing plants and fortunately we have them in the country so we buy them and sell to other countries,” he said.
This training will help us be able to work with other countries, increase the economy of the country and create employment.