More than 200 delegates and 30 exhibitors are expected to gather at the Boardwalk Convention Centre in Port Elizabeth from 18 to 19 March for the second edition of the Eastern Cape Export Symposium which will be officially opened by Eastern Cape MEC for Economic Development and Environmental Affairs (DEDEAT), Mlungisi Mvoko.
This year’s symposium will include delegates and exhibitors from countries such as Guinea, Ghana, the Middle East and Cote d’ Voire.
An initiative of the Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC), this second edition follows the successful inaugural instalment of the symposium which was held in East London in March 2019.
The theme for this year is “Strengthening the Eastern Cape’s Competitiveness in the Global Market.”
The exhibition will cater for 30 stands, including a section with information and assistance for emerging exporters. The conference will focus on several important topical areas such as the Africa Continental Free Trade Area, Doing Business in Africa and Assessing the Eastern Cape’s Infrastructure Capacity.
“In 2019, ECDC introduced the first Eastern Cape Export Symposium and Exhibition in East London to engage with emerging exporters, existing exporters and seasoned exporters in a conversation on ways to grow the export sector in the province,” says ECDC Acting Head of Trade, Investment and Innovation Phakamisa George.
“The symposium seeks to provide businesses with professional information on exporting as well as existing state programmes for Eastern Cape exporters and market opportunities to accelerate the growth of the export sector.
“The symposium is organised in collaboration with the Eastern Cape Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEDEAT), the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality, Nelson Mandela Bay Metro Municipality and other related organisations.
“The programme will also include business to business meetings.”
George says these activities will be backed up with a networking event which will allow business people to engage in fruitful discussions and agreements.
Due to the threat of the Corona Virus, the ECDC and the hosting venue, the Boardwalk Casino wish to assure all those who will be attending precautionary measures will be taken to mitigate against the risks posed by the virus.