EC Businesswoman Confident to Clinch Deals in West Africa

An East London-based Eastern Cape businesswoman, Ms Sandiswa Qayi is confident of clinching business deals in Nigeria and Ghana that will enable her to establish a market for her company’s products. Qayi will be part of the 40-member strong business delegation that will be participating in the Outward Trade and Investment Mission to Ghana and Nigeria from 9-14 February 2020.

The mission is organised and funded by the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) with the aim of assisting the South African companies explore trade and investment opportunities in the two West African economic powerhouses.

Qayi is the Managing Director of the award-winning company, AET Africa that manufactures high quality energy efficiency and clean technology products using dip molding process, as well as woven and non-woven textiles.

“I was fortunate that the dti afforded me an opportunity to travel to Ghana and Nigeria last year. The trips were very valuable for our company in that I managed to establish good contacts and promising leads that will probably see us exporting our products or technology to the two countries. This mission could not have come at a more opportune time as I have set up meetings with the companies that I met last year to discuss the way forward, as well as explore other potential opportunities that can be existing in West Africa,” says Qayi.

She adds that in Ghana she will be furthering discussions with a potential partner that she is negotiating a possible joint venture with, and follow up with potential customers that she shared samples with last year.

“We are determined to penetrate the West African market and if the keen interest that has been shown by the companies that we are in contact with is anything to go, we are optimistic that the trip will be beneficial as we expect to return with deal or orders in the bag,” says Qayi.

According to the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Ms Nomalungelo Gina, the objective of the mission is to increase bilateral trade and investment between South Africa and the two West African countries.

“This mission provides an ideal platform to South African companies seeing to explore   trade and investment opportunities in Ghana and Nigeria. The mission is also part of South Africa’s economic strategy for Africa, which is premised on the development integration approach focusing on advancing the priorities for Africa as set out in the country’s Re-imagined Industrialisation Strategy, and the Integrated National Export Strategy (INES).  It is also part of South Africa’s commitment to increasing intra-African trade and investment in line with the spirit and letter of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA),” says Gina.


The Managing Director of AET Africa, Ms Sandiswa Qayi speaking to  a Ghanaian businessman during her first to Ghana last year.

Enquiries:
Sidwell Medupe-Departmental Spokesperson
Tel: (012) 394 1650
Mobile: 079 492 1774
E-mail: MSMedupe@thedti.gov.za
Issued by: The Department of Trade and Industry
Follow us on Twitter: @the_dti

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