Two Cape Town wine making companies are optimistic that this week’s investment and trade initiative (ITI) to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) will give them an opportunity to expand their footprint to the DRC and neighbouring countries.
Wine makers Aslina and Robinson & Sinclair are part of the 29 business people delegation to the DRC for the 8th ITI scheduled to take place in Kinshasa and Lubumbashi from Monday to Saturday, the trade and industry department (dti) said in a statement.
The objective of the ITI was to create market penetration for South African value-added products and services in the DRC and to promote South Africa as a trade and investment destination.
Aslina Wines owner and director Ntsiki Biyela said her target in terms of expanding her brand and wines had always been Africa. She was already exporting to Ghana and said the continent was an ideal market for up-and-coming exporters.
“My aim is to meet with importers, distributors, restaurateurs, as well as hotel and beverage managers who will assist in introducing my wines into the DRC market. International markets are more receptive to unknown brands, hence we have grown more overseas,” she said.
Biyela spent a year as a domestic worker before she was awarded a scholarship to study for a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture degree at Stellenbosch University in 1999. She was crowned Woman Winemaker of the Year in 2009 and had been a finalist for two consecutive years for the most influential women in business and government awards, the dti said.
Biyela also sat on the board of directors of the Pinotage Youth Development Academy, which provided technical training and personal development for young South Africans in the Cape Winelands, preparing them for work in the wine industry.
Robinson & Sinclair Wines North American and African sales manager Cyril Meidinger said the company they would like to expand their footprint to the rest of Africa, as it was a market they had not managed to properly get into so far.
“We would like to meet with importers, distributors, and retailers in the DRC in order to expose them to the quality of our beautiful South African wines and aim to develop our inter-continental relationships. Previous participation has exposed us to meet new importers and distributors globally,” he said.
The business delegation would participate in the exhibition, business seminars, and a series of business-to-business meetings, the dti said. (via African News Agency)
SAB Foundation Tholoana Programme 2018 Now Open For Entries
Entrepreneurs are encouraged to apply for the 2018 SAB Foundation Tholoana Programme, powered by Fetola.
We need your help in finding SA’s most exceptional entrepreneurs, those people who are passionate and determined to succeed, people like Bukelwa Ngoqo, the founder of Sunkissed Fashion at East London Airport.
There is space for a new intake of seeking sixty excellent entrepreneurs.
High business growth, positive job creation and long-term improvement in business success rates are just some of the benefits for participants.
The programme aims to support women, the youth and those living in rural and peri-urban areas, as well as those working in new or growing sectors such as export, manufacturing, food processing, water, energy and waste management.
Entrepreneurs with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.
Applications are open until 30 November 2018. Follow this link to apply – SAB Foundation Tholoana Programme. Email SAB@fetola.co.za or call 080 0611 095 (toll-free) for more information.
ATTACQ And LaunchLab Smart Cities Innovation Winners Announced
The six winners of the ATTACQ Smart Cities Innovation Challenge were recently announced after a strict adjudication process. The winners will receive incubation support from the LaunchLab in addition to a share of R100 000 seed funding from ATTACQ.
Over the past four months LaunchLab ran this entrepreneurial challenge across partner university campuses in the South Africa to source innovative smart city ideas to help build the smartest urban development in Africa, namely Waterfall City; a premier location in Gauteng to live, work and play. This was done for the second year in partnership with ATTACQ, a leading South African property company founded by property entrepreneurs.
The ATTACQ Smart Cities Innovation Challenge winners, who will proceed to LaunchLab Lift-Off Programme, are:
- Sxuirrel: an app that connects short-term storage seekers with property owners with additional space they would like to make money from.
- Poynt Bikes: a mobile application-based bike share system aimed at providing a sustainable, convenient, cost effective and alternative mode of transport to all those within a town or city.
- Hydrogen Fueled Drones: drones that are able to last 12+ times longer than current drones and therefore able to perform tasks that were previously not possible.
- Appmit: a mobile app to enable flexible entry into spaces and facilities.
- Y-shop: an online grocery ordering system using a micro-jobbing model.
- Drop Car Wash: an on demand location-based car wash service looking to help formalize an informal service offering.
Ekurhuleni To Provide Access To Land Parcels To Help Emerging Businesses
The City of Ekurhuleni is committed to availing land to local businesses to fast-track development for emerging entrepreneurs, the city said on Sunday.
Mayoral committee member for finance and economic development Doctor Xhakaza told the Tembisa Business Indaba on Friday that the municipal land parcels would be made available to business owners to help them move from operating in backyards to appropriate business spaces, the city said in a statement.
“We are in a process of releasing about 40 identified land parcels to entrepreneurs in order to create a favourable environment for business to expand,”  Xhakaza told the indaba.
He also announced that plans were underway to develop Esselen Park dams and open spaces to include picnic facilities, a bird watching hide, walkways, cycling routes, and tourism facilities.
The planning of such spaces was envisioned to provide an eco-centre that could be used as a tourism stop and business opportunity in Tembisa, the city said. (via African News Agency)
