JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has invited South African manufacturers and exporters of mining equipment and related products and services to apply to participate at DRC Mining Week 2016, scheduled to take place on June 8 and 9 in Lubumbashi, in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The DTI aimed to provide South African exporters leverage to introduce their products into foreign markets by participating in suitable foreign exhibitions in a cost-effective manner.
As part of this initiative, the DTI would offer financial support to qualifying firms in the form of exhibition space and booth rental costs, freight-forwarding of display materials, as well as air travel assistance and a daily subsistence allowance to small-, medium-sized and microenterprises and black-owned enterprises.
The DTI outlined that many companies did not feel that exhibitions were an effective way of reaching their market and, as such, did not take advantage of the opportunities offered by exhibitions to attract customers to their product.
“However, if used correctly, a trade show can be one of the most effective marketing tools available to any company. This is where your customers come to you, in large numbers, to see your product in action and meet you face-to-face,” the department said on its website.
Companies had until February 18 to submit their applications.