The Chief Executive Officer of a Pretoria-based company, Khonje Designs Jewellery, Ms Ceciwa Khonje, says she is optimistic that taking part in an Investment and Trade Initiative (ITI) to Russia will open opportunities for her company.
The company is part of the South African business delegation which is financed and led by the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) on an ITI to Vladivostok, Russia from today to Friday, 6 December 2013.
Khonje says Russia is a wealthy country and she is expecting to find buyers for her up-market brand. “I am told Russians love exclusive, high-end brands. I foresee my products capturing the attention of the Russian fashion lovers,” adds Khonje.
Khonje says she is expecting to find buyers in Russia on a permanent basis and hopes to find exclusive boutiques which she can entering to agreements with and supply them with her jewellery.
She says with the assistance she is getting from the dti she should be able to reach her goal very soon and as a small business, she can also play her part in contributing to the country’s economic growth.
The ITI is an initiative of the dti to increase trade and investment between South Africa and Russia.
The planned activities for the ITI include a trade and investment seminar which will be addressed by the Ambassador of South Africa to Russia and former Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Mandisi Mpahlwa, business-to-business meetings, round-table discussions and site visits.
The dti has already assisted hundreds of business people through its Export Marketing and Investment Assistance Scheme (EMIA). The 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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