Spotlight on intra-African trade at 22nd Saitex Expo this weekend

Some sixteen thousand visitors are expected to converge on the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand near Johannesburg this weekend when the continent’s largest and best-known expo starts on Saturday.

Now in its 22nd year, the Southern African International Trade Exhibition (SAITEX) is famous for the value of deals made during the three-day expo.
“SAITEX brings a major boost to the economy by attracting international traders determined to explore the rich business opportunities Africa has to offer,” said John Thomson of Exhibition Management Services, organisers of the event. “The biggest benefit for SAITEX participants are the countless, affordable business opportunities on show. This year we have more than 1 000 exhibitors from 34 countries at SAITEX to actively find importers, wholesalers, distributors, retailers, agents and entrepreneurs.”
Last year the City of Johannesburg hosted local exhibitors on its pavilion who generated business deals worth more than R700-million, and SAITEX made R79-million for local business. “SAITEX is an extremely cost-effective business platform; an oasis of opportunities for start-ups, SMMEs as well as big businesses, all under one roof,” said Thomson. “The show boosts both intra-Africa trade, as well as global commerce.”
As part of the value-added programme around the show, the City of Johannesburg will host a number of seminars aimed at boosting trade, creating jobs and attracting skills and technology transfer.