Reviewing SAITEX's success

E-commerce: the game changer driving business growth in SA

Mandisa Guliwe

On reviewing the results of the SAITEX expo, held in Johannesburg in July 2011, the organisers have noted that the expo recorded its highest attendance since the recent global recession, increasing visitor numbers by 16% to 6141. Exhibitors increased by 30% to 479, with participants from 54 countries, a 57% increase over SAITEX 2010. Over 60% of show visitors were owners, managing directors or directors of companies.

Exhibitor deals

Exhibitors reported encouraging results. Over R11-million worth of transactions were negotiated with exhibitors on the Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) stand, with an additional R6.7 million in orders under negotiation. GIZ is a federally owned German organisation which helps people and societies around the world to create sustainable enterprises and build better futures.

"Our participation at SAITEX brought us about 20 deals and 60 solid leads," reported Vaughan van der Merwe, group general manager of Safety Smart. The South African company distributes a wide range of local and imported safety footwear and equipment.

The Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry made its début at this year's show. It brought 12 companies, representing the food, distillery, scientific, and agricultural sectors amongst others. Yuri Lositsky, the organisation's deputy chairman said, "Belarus exports to more than 150 countries worldwide and we are exploring Africa as a new market for our goods. Because of the variety that the expo has to offer, we chose it as the initial introduction to showcase our products to the continent."

"Our objective in participating was to generate trade leads for KwaZulu-Natal based small businesses to get export orders. All the SMMEs who exhibited on our stand secured orders," said Donnee Kruger, manager of Trade and Investment KwaZulu-Natal's Gauteng office.