South African businesspeople who showcased locally-made products and services at the Ghana International Trade Fair are confident that leads secured during the week-long trade fair will soon turn into tangible business opportunities.

 The owner of Worthway Coating, Mr Caleb Sampi, said that he was pleased by the outcomes of the trade fair. He said he achieved what he went to Ghana for, which is getting partners for his business.

 “I have been looking for partners in this part of the continent, in order for me to bring in the technology and expand my business into Ghana. I am confident that the leads that I had acquired will soon translate into concrete partnerships,” said Sampi.

The Director at the Steel Tube Export Association of South Africa, Mr Keitumetse Moumakoe, said the trade fair was a good investment and was beneficial to the association. He added that the association managed to find a lot of fabricators that were initially not sure where to procure most of their materials.

 According to Moumakoe, most of the enquiries he received were related to aluminium steel, normal carbon steel, and steel tubes and pipes. He also obtained enquiries from people connected to the oil and gas industry that is experiencing substantial growth in Ghana. Moumakoe believes the association’s members who are active in the oil and gas industry, have the potential to secure opportunities there by providing manufacturers in the industry with their products and services.

 “Subsequent to showcasing at this trade fair, we will make follow-ups with Ghanaian fabricators on all the leads we had acquired. The Ghanaian market needs technical expertise and quality steel, and we can provide that as South African firms. It was also encouraging to hear that these fabricators are not only looking at the prices, but also the quality of products,” said Moumakoe.

The Sales Manager of Narrowtex, Mr Jitesh Roy said he met a good number of potential distributors and individuals that will hopefully put the company in a platform to settle and do business in Ghana. His company manufacturers curtain tapes, narrostrap, narrolash, cable pulling tapes, bonded strapping, automotive restraint webbing and poly propylene webbings,

 In addition, Jitesh stated that he assessed the market and came up with an idea to set up an assembly plant in Ghana. He said in the near future, he will be looking into getting a local partner that he will work with to set up an assembly plant and supply the market in Ghana.

 Mr Chris Whelpton of Bayede Marketing, a wine making-company, said he attended the trade fair with an intention of expanding the wines’ market base, marketing the brand and exposing their wine to the Ghanaian market. He stated that he had interesting people coming to his stand and had also met potential clients from neighbouring Nigeria.

 A KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg-based Zan Zan Decor’s Phindile Mkhize described the trade fair as important to her business. She said she was content with the outcomes of the trade fair, which she said provided her with an opportunity to meet potential distributors and market her products.

 “I met people who are interested in buying my products in bulk and potential partners and I will be making follow-ups with them for my products to finally make their way to Ghana. The platform was also a learning curve for me as I managed to scope the market and have identified opportunities where I can improve to fit in the market,” stated Mkhize.

 This group of 20 South African companies specialising in agro-processing, chemicals, clothing and textiles, forestry furniture, creative industries, built environment and capital equipment was funded by the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) and showcased their products and services at the Ghana International Trade Fair 28 February to 7 March 2018.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Department of Trade and Industry, South Africa.