The Executive Mayor, Cllr Mpho Phalatse, says her administration is putting impetus behind revitalising Joburg’s economy to create a City of golden opportunities for all.

Cllr Phalatse was speaking on the side-lines of the 16th annual Meetings Africa exhibition and tradeshow held this week at the Sandton Convention Centre.

Regarded as one of Africa’s biggest pan-African business events, Meetings Africa showcases some of the continent’s tourism services and products, from accommodation providers, destination-marketing companies, and tourism agencies to conference venues, professional conference organisers, hotels, and business event support services.

The increased number of SMME participants at the show was a testament to the ethos and commitment of transforming the business sector, says Councillor Nkululeko Mbundu, the MMC for Economic Development.

Mbundu says business events play a catalytic role in promoting a range of support services whilst at the same time bringing together an array of tourists. However, the Covid-19 pandemic resulted in many big events meant to be hosted in Joburg being cancelled or turned into virtual events, resulting in heavy losses.

“Most businesses are here today to say we still exist and just to see if we can get business from the people that are coming through. We also want to see what everybody is doing to stay afloat because for us it’s been a tough 2 years,” says Accounts and Marketing Manager from Ikhono Thrive Global, Busi Tshabalala.

This year’s event was attended by national and international exhibitors in the marketing, consumer goods, advertising, and event organisation fraternities. The event provided a platform for exhibitors, buyers, and media personnel in the business events industry to engage in forming lasting economic partnerships. Meetings Africa also provided young people pursuing careers in the business events industry with the opportunity to network and build contacts.

Chien-Chien Wu, Vice President of the Student Council and a 3rd-year student at Stenden South Africa, was sponsored by the private higher education institution to attend the event. “Our institution offers young people like me opportunities to travel and experience the job market while studying. I’m grateful for this opportunity because it’s preparing me for life after school,” says the 21-year-old Wu.

Due to Covid-19, the vulnerability of global value chains was exposed, together with the necessity of logistics to get trade moving while global demand fell. Trade restrictions have also been one of the tools used by countries to manage the spread of the pandemic.

“These kinds of events are very important to us as businesspeople, especially now with Covid-19. It’s good to interact with clients face-to-face and be back in eventing. We’re trying to get both local and international travellers to experience our properties throughout South Africa,” says Francois Joubert, the Head of Sales and Marketing at Cresta Hotel. Headquartered in Botswana, Cresta Hotel has branches in South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Cllr Phalatse hopes Meetings Africa was beneficial to buyers, exhibitors, and tourists because Johannesburg is home to thousands of people from all over the continent and the world.

She says “local, provincial, and national spheres of government must work together if we are to fully realise the economic potential of our country at all levels”.

Cllr Phalatse adds that the City is looking to boost intercontinental trade and business travel whilst promoting local tourist hotspots.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to be here. This is a fantastic event with great exhibitors. It was a good business decision to come through from Gqeberha,” says Tania Piers-Prinsloo, the Room Divisions Manager for Bluewater Bay Sunrise Hotel.

Sharon Uys, the founding member of Iced Blue Marketing, says Meetings Africa was marketed as a perfect opportunity to do business, and has lived up to expectations.

“They said buyers and delegates were coming to do business, and I found that to be the case. The business engagements that I had here were of exceptional quality. This is a great platform,” said Uys.

“The Sandton Convention Centre is spacious; I like how they were able to design the space. The location is great because it has a lot of accommodation. People can be able to sleep nearby. Being a business hub, a lot of businesses are around this area, and it is a good place for networking and for getting business,” says Dineo Sefala from the University of Mpumalanga.

Written by Gontse ‘GeE’ Hlophe

03/03/2022