The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic), in partnership with the SAB Foundation, is implementing a comprehensive Export Readiness Programme to prepare emerging South African businesses for international trade. The programme forms part of a structured pathway to develop globally competitive small businesses, with shared investment from both partners.
The initiative began earlier this year with an export awareness workshop, introducing the SAB Foundation entrepreneurs to the opportunities and requirements of global markets. This was followed by an export readiness assessment, which evaluated participating companies and identified their strengths and areas for improvement in export development.
The programme recently advanced into its third phase with an intensive training and coaching intervention, delivered through the dtic’s Global Export Passport Programme (GEPP). The week-long training equipped participants with practical skills in export strategy development, compliance, logistics, and market entry planning.
Over the next four months, the programme will continue to advance to other phases of the GEPP, with each participating business receiving tailored coaching to develop a dedicated export marketing plan.
As part of the last week’s activities, participants also undertook a study tour to in2food, a leading South African agri-business that supplies leading retail brands locally and has established strong markets in the United Kingdom and European Union. in2food manufactures a broad range of products across the fresh, bakery, frozen and grocery categories. The visit provided real-world insights into meeting global standards and scaling operations for export success.
Future phases of the Export Readiness Programme will include market access support, where businesses will be linked to relevant platforms, buyers, and opportunities to showcase their products internationally.
According to the Director of Export Development and Support at the dtic, Mr Kwanele Mkhwanazi, the collaboration with the SAB Foundation ensures that small businesses are taken on a structured export journey, complemented with insightful export awareness and thorough diagnostic assessment, training, coaching, and actual market access.
“A key improvement we have made to the Global Export Passport Programme is the introduction of study tours such as the one to in2food. This ensures that entrepreneurs learn practically from well-established exporters what it truly takes to compete globally before venturing into their own export journey,” says Mkhwanazi.
“We also call on established exporters to partner with the dtic in mentoring emerging exporters by sharing their skills, experiences and knowledge, so that we build a stronger and more inclusive export ecosystem for South Africa,” he adds.
Speaking on behalf of the SAB Foundation, Ms Itumeleng Dhlamini, Head of Programme, acknowledged the partnership as one that enables the SAB Foundation to give programme participants more than funding and business support, but tools and pathways to become successful exporters.
“By collaborating with the dtic, we are helping small businesses unlock international opportunities that can create jobs and drive inclusive growth,” says Dhlamini
The Export Readiness Programme reflects a shared commitment between the dtic and the SAB Foundation to strengthen the competitiveness of South Africa’s small business sector. By the conclusion of the programme, participating enterprises will be export-ready, equipped with tailored strategies, and positioned to access global markets.
Entrepreneurs who attended the week-long Export Readiness Programme training presented by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic), in partnership with the SAB Foundation.
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Issued by: The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic)
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For SAB Foundation
About the SAB Foundation
Founded in 2010, the SAB Foundation provides funding for small, medium and micro-sized enterprises in order to contribute to the economic and social empowerment of historically disadvantaged persons through entrepreneurship development. The SAB Foundation’s primary beneficiaries are women, youth, people with disabilities and people living in rural areas. To date, more than R668 million has been invested in social innovation, disability empowerment and SMMEs.
For further information, contact:
Maciek Dubla | Ntokozo Kalako
The Friday Street Club
Tel: 079 934 0221| 067 610 6879
Email: maciek@thefridaystreetclub.co.za | ntokozo@thefridaystreetclub.co.za
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