The Southern African International Trade Exhibition (Saitex), in its twenty-first year, has created business opportunities worth R70-million for Gauteng, according to the Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Fay Mukaddam.
Addressing dignitaries and exhibitors at this year’s Saitex, held at the Gallagher Convention Centre, in Midrand, she stated that the exhibition was the biggest trade opportunity event in South Africa and was growing year-on-year.
Saitex ran from June 22 to June 24 and showcased more than 900 companies from 45 countries, profiling nonfood retail products, tools, hardware and building supplies, as well as housewares and homewares.
Visitors to the exhibition included importers, agents, distributors, wholesalers and retailers.
Mukaddam stated that Saitex was an opportunity to grow the domestic economy to strengthen businesses.
Saitex is wholly owned and oper- ated by exhibition company Exhi-bition Management Services (EMS).
EMS show organiser John Thom-son said any established enter- prise, ambitious entrepreneur or budding business owner looking for the most effective business networking platform or enterprise launch pad into Africa and the world would find the opportunities at Saitex.
The show provides hundreds of business ideas and service opportunities, with more than 1 000 exhibitors, for 16 000 trade-focused visitors from more than 40 countries.
“Saitex holds countless keys to countless doors. The show’s success is built on delivering unlimited opportunities for new, existing and future enterprises to grow business, diversify clientele and explore new markets across Africa and worldwide. Many of the business opportunities our exhibitors showcase are affordable, unlike franchises, which can be costly,” Thomson said.