Latest news South Africa business
By Ndumiso Mlilo.
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa. (News Of The South) – South African businessmen who had gone to Zimbabwe on a trade mission have said they got trade leads which they will follow up with view to make concrete deals with their Northern neighbours.
About 30 South African companies spent five days in Zimbabwe where they interacted with their Zimbabwean counterpart in Bulawayo, Gweru and Harare. The South African delegation was led by Mzwandile Masina, the Department of Trade and Industry deputy minister. The business manager of Rail at DCD Ringrollers, Hlayisani Matelakengisa said the trip was successful. He said, “We really had a very successful trip and are coming back home with serious trade leads that can see us exporting our products to Zimbabwe soon. We could not have asked for more. In Harare we had a fruitful meeting with representatives of a mining company that is interested in purchasing our steel tyres.”
The delegation did site visits, held seminars and meetings with Zimbabweans. The theme of the Investment and Trade Initiative mission was ‘strengthening business linkages between South Africa and Zimbabwe’. Matelakengisa also said, “The highlight of our trip was the site visit we paid to the National Railways of Zimbabwe where we learnt about their rehabilitation programme. There are a lot of things that we and other rail supply companies in South Africa can provide for the rehabilitation programme to be a success. We are looking forward to doing business in Zimbabwe in the near future.”
The trip was meant to enhance business relations between Zimbabwe and South Africa. Cape Diamond Wines said they got positive leads in Bulawayo and Harare. The company’s sales and marketing manager at Lutzville, Ansie Truter expressed hope that they will soon be exporting wine to Zimbabwe. She said, “I am so excited that the meeting I had with a representative of a big hotel group operating hotels in Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zambia and Namibia. The best part of this possible deal is that he wants to buy our ones from an agent that we met in Harare this week. We have already couriered samples of our wines to Harare.”
She also said a Zimbabwean businessman who is starting a boutique hotel in Victoria Falls also showed interest in importing her wines. Truter also stated that a Mutare-based wine farm showed interest in her marketing, branding and wine education services.
Caption: Ekasi IT Solutions’ Muzikayise Nkosi discussing a possible deal with businesspeople in Zimbabwe
The chief executive officer of Johannesburg-based Ekasi IT Solutions Muzikayise Nkosi said he held some positive meeting with the high-ranking officials of the Zimbabwean ministry of information, communication and technology. Nkosi said, “The ministry is working on a paperless education programme in which they need our participation. They would like us to pilot the project in two schools and have requested us to submit a proposal. To us this is the best possible deal we are coming back home with and if it materialises the impact on our company will be massive. It will also revolutionarise the Zimbabwean education system and we will be proud to be part of this revolution in a neighbouring country.”
A Zimbabwean tobacco company also showed interest in buying tons of tobacco drying wire from a Durban based company, Thekwini Wire and Fasteners. The director of the company, Bala Moodley said they could be many companies in Zimbabwe who could be interested in his products. Moodley also said, “If we finally seal a deal, I will have a really big market to supply with our products. The assembling could take place in Zimbabwe and this can create employment in the country. We also found company that is interested in distributing our produces as our agent.”
Most companies said they got leads from Zimbabwe which they will follow up and make concrete deals. A CapeTown based company; Kidrogen, chief executive officer, Andile Peter said the trip to Zimbabwe was an eye opener. There were taking part in the trade mission to Zimbabwe for the first time. Peter said, “As a first-time participant in a mission my main objective was to gather as much information as possible about the Zimbabwean business environment in particular. I learnt a lot from the guidelines that were unpacked during the seminars. There are possible business opportunities that I have identified here including exporting wine to Bulawayo, investing in a chicken franchise and transportation operation.”
Caption: Ekasi IT Solutions’ Muzikayise Nkosi discussing a possible deal with businesspeople in Zimbabwe
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