An Eastern Cape cooperative enterprise is hoping to make a breakthrough into the international market after getting an opportunity to exhibit their product outside the country for the first time. Thanks to the Department of Trade and Industry (the DTI), Ms Nondumiso Mbecwa, a 62-year-old grandmother from Zizamele in Butterworth is currently participating in the 30th International Fair of Luanda Trade Exhibition popularly known as FILDA, taking place in the Angolan capital of Luanda from 16-21 July 2013.
She is part of a delegation comprising thirty-three business people who have been in Angola from Sunday, through the assistance of the DTI. The delegation is led by the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Ms Elizabeth Thabethe.
Back home, a group of six women and one man, who belong to the Bubulumko Agricultural Cooperative of which Mbecwa is a member, are crossing their fingers and waiting anxiously for positive news from Angola.
“I am also harbouring ambitions of seeing our soya mince which we produce in Butterworth, attracting attention from the Angolan people or even exhibitors from other countries so that we can start exporting. Entering the export market will be a huge boost to our business and will result in us expanding our business by increasing production and hiring more people. In this way, we can contribute significantly in creating employment in our area,” said a confident Mbecwa.
The Bubulumko cooperative was founded in 2007 by the eight members whose ages range from 40-75 with the aim of eking out a living and keeping the wolf from the door. It started as a small vegetable-producing enterprise but after its members gained confidence and experience in doing business, they decided to expand their business by diversifying into soya mince production in 2011.
A grant of R750 000 from the provincial social development department enabled them to set up a small mixing plant and bought raw material required for the production of soya mince. Today the cooperative members pride themselves in selling soya mince to schools and communities in Butterworth and surrounding areas in four flavours under the brand name Mnquma Soya Mince. They are also providing the local supermarket with their products.
FILDA is a multi-sectoral fair attended by exhibitors from different sectors including oil, banking, services, trade, communications, automobile, machines and equipment, and agricultural and farming products, amongst others.
The DTI has already assisted hundreds of businesspeople through its Export Marketing and Investment Assistance Scheme (EMIA). The EMIA scheme develops export markets for South African products and services and recruits new foreign direct investment into South Africa.
Enquiries:
Sidwell Medupe, departmental Spokesperson
Tel: 012 394 1650
Cell: 079 492 1774
E-mail: MSMedupe@thedti.gov.za
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