NEWS RELEASE                                                                            23 June 2004

 

BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES TARGETED IN WESGRO’S NEW EXPORT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

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The Western Cape’s investment and trade promotion agency, WESGRO, has joined forces with Ntsika Enterprise Promotion Agency to launch an Export Development Programme (EDP) for exporters in the Western Cape.

  The training programme for existing and potential exporters will be offered on three levels – a basic one-day export awareness programme, a 7-10 day course spread over two or three months for export-ready but inexperienced companies, and courses for current exporters who need specialized knowledge. The export training will be complemented by a mentorship programme, have a strong sector focus, and contain specialist intervention courses.

WESGRO’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Ismail Dockrat, said the main focus of the initiative would be to give special support to small and medium sized black owned businesses in the Western Cape, especially in the platteland areas.

“WESGRO is proud to have Ntsika Enterprise Promotion Agency on board for the programme as this allows us to combine and integrate our efforts.  Ntsika has a wealth of experience providing small and medium enterprises with export training and capacity building.  WESGRO's main objective is to grow the export base and ensure that black owned enterprises can take advantage of export opportunities."

Mr Lefa Mallane, CEO of Ntsika, said the signing of a memorandum of understanding between WESGRO and Ntsika would solidify their relationship.

  “It makes absolute sense to co-ordinate our efforts at national and provincial level and to provide our combined expertise to exporters to ensure sustainable access to global markets," he said. The programme is geared to the needs of existing entrepreneurs who would like to enter world markets in the future or who are already exporting but want to diversify their markets.

 

BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES TARGETED IN WESGRO’S NEW EXPORT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

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WESGRO is the official investment and trade promotion agency for the Western Cape. It is the first point of contact for foreign importers, local exporters and investors wishing to take advantage of the unlimited opportunities in the Growing Cape.

 

For more information, interested companies can contact Mr Riaan Warie, Manager for Export and Development at WESGRO on 021 487 8600 or email: riaan@wesgro.org.za

 

ENDS

Issued by                    Rosemary Hare Public Relations cc

                                    P O Box 12521

                                    MILL STREET

                                    8010

 

On behalf of               WESGRO

                                    P O Box 1878

                                    CAPE TOWN

                                    8001

 

For further information contact Samirah Samuels at Rosemary Hare Public Relations on 021 465 1166 or 082 339 0253.

 

All information documents produced by Rosemary Hare Public Relations are available on the website www.rosehare.co.za

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