The twelve companies supported by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) to showcase products at the Organic and Natural Products Expo Africa in Sandton at the weekend hailed the expo a success after successfully engaging potential clients, getting trade leads and making sales.
Speaking on the last day of the expo, the Co-Founder of MO and K Essence, Ms Kgomotso Moloi said she engaged with potential clients who showed interest in future partnerships.
“We made a lot of sales over the weekend and also had business-to-business meetings on the sidelines where potential clients we met mentioned that they would like us to supply our products to their stores and to render packages for their corporates events,” she said.
Mo and K Essence, which is based in Ekurhuleni, started with a passion and love of candles in 2020. The passion expanded into a business producing a variety of products from candles, bath salts, diffusers and room mists, special care packages and gifting goods.
Moloi added that she was grateful for the opportunity granted by the dtic to market her products at a such prestigious platform.
The Managing Director of Isiba Organics, Ms Abongile Nonjoba said she was happy with the exposure that her products received since she mainly sells online.
“I’m happy with the type of clientele I have engaged at the show. We made some sales here and there, but the most important goal for our business was to have trade leads with corporate, retail buyers and other distributors to expand our network. We have indeed met potential clients who were keen to work with us in the future,” she said.
A Professional Beauty Therapist with a background in Phytomedicine and Natural Products at the University of Pretoria, and Food and Beverage Packaging Operations, Nonjoba noted that the expo might not have been marketed as highly as other shows but despite these issues she praised the dtic for providing a platform for their hair products.
The Director of Export Development and Support at the dtic, Mr Kwanele Mkhwanazi who spoke during a business seminar held at the expo, said the department’s National Exporter Development Programme aimed at empowering emerging exporters particularly in the natural and organic industries, highlights the importance of inclusivity, targeting women and youth, and provides support through training, mentorship, and financial instruments.
Mkhwanazi underscored the significant contribution of small businesses to the economy but noted that only a small percentage of them export. He said challenges like capacity to supply, understanding market demand, dealing with legislation requirements, and overcoming tariff and non-tariff barriers normally hinder such progress.
“the dtic has dedicated trade missions and expos all over the world to support sector-specific small businesses such as the cosmetics sector. We then expose these small businesses to the industrial finance platform, which provides a range of financial instruments to support businesses,” he said.
Mkhwanazi encouraged businesses to work together with local municipalities, provincial agencies and export councils for trade and investment opportunities.
The Co-Founder of MO and K Essence, Ms Kgomotso Moloi at the Organic and Natural Products Expo Africa in Sandton, Gauteng.
The Managing Director of Isiba Organics, Ms Abongile Nonjoba at the Organic and Natural Products Expo Africa in Sandton, Gauteng.
The Director of Export Development and Support at the dtic, Mr Kwanele Mkhwanazi speaking at the Organic and Natural Products Expo Africa in Sandton, Gauteng.
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