Engineering machine tools distributor Craft Machine Tools will be a first-time exhibitor at this year’s Electra Mining Botswana exhibition, which runs from September 3 to 5 at the Gaborone fairgrounds, in Gaborone, Botswana.

Craft Machine Tools GM Anton Zackey tells Mining Weekly that the company hopes to increase its presence outside South Africa by exhibiting at the event.

“Craft Machine Tools will exhibit at stand C21. Visitors will be introduced to the company through an array of visual multimedia, brochures and samples produced by our machine tools,” he says, adding that two company sales representatives will be present at the stand to answer questions and deal with enquiries pertaining to the Craft Machine Tools offering.

“The company has made a strategic decision to expand beyond its current South African marketing, believing that the rest of Africa is showing great economic growth prospects,” he says.

Zackey points out that, as a company, Craft Machine Tools, is looking forward to introducing its products to a new market.

“We hope to gain a greater understanding of the needs of not only the Botswana market but also the greater Southern African market. We are also looking forward to gaining insight into the possible opportunities that are available in Southern Africa and, more importantly, how we, as a company, can gain access to those opportunities,” he notes.

Zackey explains that the company is familiar with the Electra Mining trade show, which is held in South Africa biannually.

“Having an understanding of the type of platform Electra Mining offers, coupled with the growing mining industry in Botswana, [we believe] the trade show offers a logical stepping stone to implementing our strategy of expanding our presence into other African countries,” he notes.

Zackey adds that this event is important for the African economy and mining industry because it offers companies the opportunity to showcase their offerings to a greater market.

“It opens doors to opportunities that may not have presented themselves otherwise. Capitalising on these opportunities results in company growth, and the accumulation of many companies experiencing such growth ultimately results in greater macro- economic growth,” Zackey explains.

He further notes that access is one of the major challenges facing the industry.

“Craft Machine Tools has access to great products, which it wants to share with the rest of Africa. The challenge is finding a distribution system that is simple and economically viable,” Zackey says.

He points out that Africa is experiencing a mining boom.

“The truth is Africa has the potential to be the next big global growth hub and if Africa, together with the rest of the world, can capitalise on this potential, I believe the future is bright,” he notes.