South African entrepreneur, Ms Azande Ndebele, says she is encouraged by the positive response and uptake of the products that she has taken to the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE) taking place in Shanghai.
Ndebele is the founder of Shlobo Designs, a company that specialises in making leather bags and a variety of beaded products and accessories. Her bags in particular are a hit with buyers at the CIIE; not only are they flying off the shelves that she has had to limit her daily sales to ensure she has enough to display until the end of the expo, but she is constantly negotiating long term deals to ensure constant supply to the Chinese market.
Shlobo Designs is one of 35 South African companies that have benefited from the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition’s (the dtic) Export Marketing and Investment Assistance (EMIA), an incentive aimed at exposing local businesses to global export markets. The CIIE is an international exhibition platform that provides an opportunity for companies from all over the world to showcase their products capabilities in China, but most importantly to potential buyers of goods and services.
The model of Ndebele’s business is intentionally aimed at empowering previously disadvantaged women with whom she creates the bags. This enables the women in the most remote and rural areas of KwaZulu-Natal opportunities to gain stable jobs and continuous skills development and training.
“I started attending the CIIE last year and my bags seem to have hit the right note with customers. I received large orders from China following my participation in the expo. I am experiencing the same in 2024. I think it is the uniqueness of our design and the fact that we have opted to preserve the durability and quality of the bags by opting not to use any chemicals in the production process and rather using organic methods,” says Ndebele.
“ The opportunity created through the support we are receiving to participate in the CIIE is great and as much as I’m excited about access to the China market, I would like to expand to European markets with the hope that this will contribute towards the creating more jobs for women in the under-developed areas of KwaZulu-Natal,” she added.
China is South Africa`s largest trading partner and is the world’s second largest economy, as well as the second largest importer and consumer in the world. During the recent state visit to China by President Cyril Ramaphosa, the two countries committed to strengthening and expanding practical cooperation in trade and investment, poverty reduction initiatives, education, tourism among others.
The founder of Shlobo Designs, Ms Azande Ndebele, interacts with one of the many potential buyers who visited her stand at the South African Pavillion during this week’s China International Import Export.
Enquiries:
Bongani Lukhele – Director: Media Relations
Tel: (012) 394 1643
Mobile: 079 5083 457
WhatsApp: 074 2998 512
E-mail: BLukhele@thedtic.gov.za
Issued by: The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic)
Follow us on X: @the_dtic
https://www.facebook.com/thedti?mibextid=ZbWKwL
https://www.youtube.com/@thedtic
Share this:
