From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, this is the Real Economy Report.
The BAUMA CONEXPO AFRICA 2015 exhibition took place in mid September at the Johannesburg Expo Centre in Nasrec, Gauteng, and showcased components and machines for construction and mining, as well as building materials from some of the most prominent brands worldwide. Dylan Stewart attended the expo and filed this story.

Dylan Stewart:
BAUMA CONEXPO AFRICA 2015 saw machine and components manufacturers from around the world strutting their stuff and some putting on their dancing shoes to grab the limelight from their competitors.

About 14 300 visitors attended the trade show over the four days. This number was lower than the 20 000 visitors originally predicted by event organisers Messe München.

The substandard numerical attendance was mainly ascribed to a weak local and global economy, Gauteng MEC for economic development Lebogang Maile spoke to Creamer Media’s Engineering News about the challenges faced by the economy.

Gauteng MEC for economic development Lebogang Maile

Dylan Stewart:
Despite the lower-than-expected attendance exhibitors remarked on the quality of the people visiting the show, Maile elaborated on the importance of an event like Bauma.

Gauteng MEC for economic development Lebogang Maile

Dylan Stewart:
In addition, the expo saw a significant increase in the percentage of foreign visitors from sub-Saharan Africa with the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, Zimbabwe and the Botswana being well represented. Maile, himself had met up with some of them.

Gauteng MEC for economic development Lebogang Maile

Dylan Stewart:
616 exhibitors from 42 countries showcased their new products and innovations,
a significant amount of foreign exhibitors came from China, with Germany and Italy also being strongly represented.

Sashnee Moodley

That’s Creamer Media’s Real Economy Report. Join us again next week for more news and insight into South Africa’s real economy.