Banking giant FNB is preparing to launch a forum that will facilitate networking opportunities and amass industry experts for potential joint venture partnerships and strategic associations for entrepreneurs hoping to expand.
The Global Entrepreneurial Forum, the first of which would be held in November, would ultimately become a shared platform that enabled intelligence sharing and the support of strategic stakeholders across various business disciplines, while providing entrepreneurs with trade links and business opportunities between sub-Saharan Africa, India and China.
“One of the challenges for South African businesses wanting to expand globally, when putting together their growth strategies, is gaining access to real-time, quality information and expertise that will enable them to take calculated risks and develop . . . strategies,” explained FNB Business head of global business development Zak Sivalingum.
China and India were increasingly important trade partners for South Africa, while the sub-Saharan Africa markets offered a rich cultural experience, with an evolving economic landscape that represented significant growth opportunities.
“Therefore, only those businesses that are prepared to foster collaborative relationships, aim for operational efficiency and truly understand the diverse markets within these countries will prosper,” Sivalingum concluded.