The festival, which grew out of the Soweto Homemakers Festival, is now established as one of Gauteng's signature events. With a major emphasis on SMME and youth development, the event has created a platform for hundreds of emerging entrepreneurs through the provision of training, exhibition stands and business networking. Many of these small businesses have gone on to achieve recognised success both nationally and internationally.
The event is a powerful vehicle enabling brands to communicate directly with the Soweto consumer market, which accounts for 40% of the population of Johannesburg, while the entertainment programme has become a launch pad for many new and talented performers.
"The expo has a track record, which we admire, hence our decision to invest in the event and assist in taking it to the next level," says MD of Izwi Multimedia, Thandi Ramathesele. "Above all, it has an aspirational ethos which is something all progressive-thinking South Africans can identify with. With the right partnerships behind it, the sky's the limit - our goal is to turn this into one of Africa's biggest events within five years."
"We have laid the foundation for an exciting new phase of growth in the Soweto Festival Expo," comments Toby Chance, MD of Adele Lucas Promotions. "Now, by combining our skills in event management, SMME development, the entertainment industry, marketing and promotions, I am confident the event will attract even greater support from sponsors, exhibitors and the visiting public."
The 2013 Soweto Festival Expo runs at Nasrec over the Heritage Day weekend, 20-24 September. For more, go to www.sowetofestivalexpo.co.za.
