Organisers and exhibitors at the Economic Empowerment Exhibition expect action

A Village Exhibitions & Events experience and the brainchild of business partners Letepe Maisela and Gill Sclanders, the Economic Empowerment Exhibition and Summit will not only feature an informative and issue challenging summit, but will for the first time go beyond debate and will showcase an interactive exhibition where real business and networking is to take place. This platform will allow an ever increasing number of exhibitors to introduce their products and services and create opportunities for future economic empowerment.

"In the last five months I've probably been invited to five or six economic empowerment conferences. There's a lot of talk with little action. What differentiates this event is that here we have a black economic empowerment exhibition focusing on action - with a summit running alongside where important debate can still take place." says Letepe Maisela of Village Management.

Exhibitors already on board represent a range of industries and disciplines from SMME's eager to trade to parastatal and government departments available to communicate the way forward. Exhibitors range from companies such a Boiler and Stoker Spares, The Johannesburg Fresh Produce Market, Jikelela Poles and Masts, Sebenza Forwarding, Vezubuhle Business Furniture, to Pikitup, the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, The Development Bank of Southern Africa, the Council of Geoscience and the CPPP (Community Public Private Partnerships) among others.

Exhibitors' expectations from the event may vary but all expect the Economic Empowerment Exhibition & Summit to put them a business a step closer to attaining real empowerment.

"As a newly formed BEE, we see this event as an opportunity to not only network with potential clients but also to communicate to the right target market. We'll be at the exhibition as we believe business must embrace and action economic empowerment initiatives not only for the overall good South Africa but also to be able to stay in business." commented Betsie Meyer, Director of Jikelela Poles & Masts Pty Ltd.

According to Dudu Bogatsu of Fortune D Africa, a marketing and communication strategy consultancy, "We'd like to see corporate visitors at the Economic Empowerment Exhibition and Summit because we'd like to show them what other opportunities exist within the empowerment arena. So often business does what's easy or simply all they know when addressing corporate social responsibility. Invariably using avenues like sport when there is so much more available. Besides our own efforts as a BEE company within the communications field, we work with social development projects where communities are empowered through often quite simple drives to create entrepreneurial business. This encourages economic growth in communities, thereby increasing employment and encouragingly a reduction in crime. These are the real empowerment initiatives corporates should become involved with.

In addition we'd like to challenge all business on real issues of empowerment. Debate and talk has its place, but we'd like to see more action."

Also unique to the event is that two organisers are working hand in hand to ensure that they contribute to future empowerment. South Africa Rai will host the Business Growth & Opportunities For Africa Forum with Village Exhibitions & Events simultaneously hosting the unique Economic Empowerment & Summit satellite event.

To participate in the exhibition, to attend the summit or for more event information please contact Gavin Gordon on (011) 787 5783.