The much-anticipated Pietermaritzburg & Midlands Chamber of Business Global Export Accelerator Programme (GEAP) recently got underway at an orientation session at the Fernleigh Conference Centre. The programme is supported by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.
The Global Export Accelerator Programme has an overall development objective: supporting export-led economic activity, to unlock entrepreneurial opportunities for emerging Black businesses and create export-oriented employment.
The programme aims to stimulate job creation and income generation for 40 SMMEs by providing them with a suite of export-oriented development support, ranging from training, mentoring, product development and international market research, to international market access and business linkages.
In 2016, GIZ partnered with the Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) to pilot the first export focused accelerator. Following the successful completion of that project, a number of key national stakeholders, including chambers of commerce, were interested in the model. Representatives of the enterprises from across KZN were addressed by PMCB CEO Melanie Veness and Project Manager Shân Cade who outlined the way forward.
The successful GEAP participating companies are: Afritim, Alude Arts, Artxss Investments, Bright Shadow, Cheapish Online, Crosol Engineering, D Chem Group, Diya Valves International, Dlungwane Nainda Trading, Ella Academy of Design, Enermous, Hermosa Flor Cosmetics, Incasa Foods, Isivuno Food Company, Mfan Steel Fabrications, Miracle Touch Products, Monde Le Grand, My Basket Shop, Naidoo’s Wholesalers, Nonna’s Foods, Ntsu Africa, Obees Brands, Phumla Horizons, Protea Leather Natal, Qhawekazi Styles, Sibocali Traders, Simply African Made, Sindisiwe Uzuri, The Silk Route Trading Company, Top Roti’s, Vuna Seeds, Willowbrew Coffee Merchants, Zan Zan Décor, Zillon Trading and Zuri Skincare.
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