New features at business fair
BESIDES the Flavours of Durban, there will also be many new exciting features such as the ‘ABSA Retail Buyers Trade Night’ which will premiere the Durban Business Fair on 19 September at the Durban Exhibition Centre.
Head of Business Support, Tourism and Markets Unit, Philip Sithole, said through this programme they want to expose SMMEs to business opportunities. “This will be a platform to facilitate business linkages between SMMEs and corporate entities which are trading in similar sectors, and that is why big businesses are urged to pledge their support for the inaugural ABSA Retail Buyers Trade Night,” he said
“Our Unit is currently busy offering training to the Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMME’s) to better prepare them on how to uniquely market their products to potential international and national buyers and how to conduct themselves during the Fair,” he added.
The municipality’s supply chain management will, for the first time, be available at the Fair to process registration on the new Supplier Self Service System. The system is the municipality’s upgraded quotation management system for goods under R200 000. It seeks to reform and regulate the manner in which goods and services are procured.
Sandile Ngcobo, deputy head of SCM Operations explained, “This system is meant to curtail any mal-administration, irregular expenditure and fraudulent practices.”
Suppliers that have not yet registered are encouraged to visit the Fair and do so. Friendly staff will be available to assist with the registration process.
Other municipal units will also be present at the Fair to inform the entrepreneurs and public about the services they have in place aimed at supporting and developing SMMEs.
