The South African business people who showcased locally-made products and services at the 2017 Havana International Fair (FIHAV) in Cuba are confident that the leads secured during the week-long expo will eventually flourish into tangible business opportunities, according to the trade and industry department (dti).
The managing director of East London-based Ezabathembu Chemical Company (ECC), specialising in hygiene products, Lusani Makalima remarked that his brand expansion ambitions stood a good chance in Cuba as a market with possibilities.
“The similarities that exist between our countries are putting chances of success in very high regard. We had ambitions of expanding our brand into a market that is very similar to ours in a sense that hygiene is paramount everywhere.
“I was not particularly trying to sell my products to the walk-in public, but I wanted to establish contact with businesses. I met quite a few people in the industry as well as a businessperson who represented 14 companies in Cuba. We have already had discussions but we are going to further our conversation to explore what business opportunities there are that we could collaborate on,” he said.
Makalima said he was looking forward to returning to South Africa to begin follow-ups on the leads secured.
Nathan Laubscher of the South African Boatbuilders Export Council’s (SABBEX) said he was impressed by the large number of people who visited his stand.
“To take matters forward we will engage more with the market of the charter-build businesses that own the boatbuilding businesses and explore more business-to-business meetings to ensure that we engage and market to the right people,” said Laubscher.
Worthway Coating owner Caleb Sampi said he was hopeful that Cuba would serve as a gateway where he could expand his Bowser mobile tank system to the Caribbean market.
“My Bowser tanks provide for affordable, fast, and efficient movement of water or fuel to any areas where needed in the day-to-day running of farming operations. Cuba being a developing country that is still gaining its footing to adapt to new-age farming methods stands to benefit from what I have to offer with my product. I am also hopeful that Cuba will serve as a gateway to the Americas economy where I can launch and expand my Bowser footprint,” he said.
The Havana International Fair has been the largest annual multi-sector trade fair since 1983. It is the most general trade fair in Cuba and the Caribbean as well as one of the most representative from Latin America, the dti said.
– African News Agency
