WESGRO, ECDC, Grandieu Call for Business Collaboration Among Africans

Africans have been urged to tap into investment opportunities and services in their various countries in a bid to improve Intra-African trade and understand the business environment on the continent. It will also help solidify business partnerships and grow businesses on the continent.

The Head, Africa-International Trade and Outward Investment Western Cape Tourism, Trade and Investment Promotion Agency, WESGRO, Mr. Michael Gamwo, made the submission at the 2023 Nigeria/South Africa Trade Mission in Lagos.

The event was organised and led by WESGRO in partnership with Eastern Cape Development Corporation ( ECDC) and Grandieu Inc.

Gamwo said: “Africans should be willing to do business with fellow Africans, many people are already busy doing business with Europeans, instead, they should explore other countries in Africa and see what you can do in those countries but if they don’t travel they will not discover what is happening in those countries, that is what we are trying to promote here. We ask people to travel to South Africa where can host them and arrange business seminars and identify people they can partner with so that they can come back with a better understanding of business environment in South Africa because lack of adequate information prevent people from partnering with people from other climes.

“Programme like this affords Africans the opportunity to discover new products, new services and they can start engaging people and form partnership and by doing this we can increase intra-african trade and we have a new African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) coming into effect which is going to boost trade within Africa so if we have a free trade area coming up and people don’t come around to do business because they don’t understand the business environment, it’s a shame and a pity so getting people to understand business in other countries so that they can take advantage of the free trade area.”

In his submission, the Managing Director of Grandieu David Bebiem, disclosed that his organization has been partnering with businesses and government agencies for over 15 years to foster and promote businesses in Africa and it has always been great partnering with WESGRO and ECDC of South Africa on trade missions to Nigeria.

He further explained that: “Grandieu has always been remarkable opportunities for us and other South African and Nigerian businesses whenever missions like this happen, we at Grandieu are always excited to facilitate these missions and meetings as we help to bridge the gap, and we have been recording huge successes leading to partnerships that drive growth and innovation.”

Continuing, he said: “As always, we strive to bridge the gaps between enterprises, fostering a thriving network of like-minded professionals whether you are an established industry leader or an entrepreneur, we ensure that every participant takes away something positive that will help their business.

“Engaging discussions, inspirational stories, and valuable partnership opportunities occur as businesses connect in B2B meetings. New friendship and cultural exchanges are forged and experienced.

“We ensure that delegates get a feel and taste of Lagos so it’s not just business talks alone but getting to know the people and cultures you intend to service plays a prominent role in developing your products and services.

“We go above and beyond to see that businesses succeed and thrive. Grandieu also leads trade missions to other countries and is now registered with an office in Canada.”

In her remark, Ms. Busisiwe Dlamini, Acting Consul-General, South African Consulate in Lagos commended the organizers of the event and assured them of the readiness of the South African Government in supporting such laudable programme which is aimed at promoting trade between South Africa and Nigeria.

“In 2021 our presidents, former president Mohammadu Buhari and Cyril Ramaphosa signed an agreement on trade and investment and this programme is the realization of such an agreement. As Consulate, we decided to partner with all the companies by way of facilitating meetings and B2Bs with relevant companies in Nigeria and South Africa, such engagements are reflections of the trading investments between the two countries.

“Two weeks ago, Nigeria High Commission in Pretoria had something similar where we have companies based in South Africa and South African companies engaged on how to promote trade and investment, on how to work together and how to cooperate, this programme is doing that as well especially in sectors such as manufacturing, fintech, beauty, engineering and so on.

“After this programme we expect a lot of follow ups, What we hope will happen is that there will be a linkage between Nigeria and South African companies and entities and we hope to see more South African businesses investing in Nigeria and also some partnership that are formed here today will yield many rewards that will be beneficial to the two countries in the long run” she concluded.

Executive Secretary Nigeria-South Africa Chambers of Commerce, Iyke Ejimofor, stated that Nigeria and South Africa always have the opportunity to collaborate and this programme is also one of the opportunities of collaboration.

“Nigeria accounts for about 64% of South African trade in west Africa at the same time Nigeria is one of the 3 major suppliers of crude oil to south Africa and south Africa is among the 10 percent of the major investors in Nigeria globally so you can see that the relationship between Nigeria and South Africa is very vital and critical to African development. And we from the chambers of Commerce has the responsibility to encourage Nigeria business community to collaborate with South Africa business community so that there can be synergy and trust between the businessmen and women in Nigeria and South Africa.

“Recently the joint national advisory council in industry, trade and investment was launched this is suppose an extension of bilateral commission between Nigeria and South Africa and the essence of this is for the private sector to drive business and in few days to come there is going to be a serious intervention between the Nigerian and the South African business communities so they can begin to drive and expect the best in terms of business relationships between the two countries.

“Of course, there has been a very positive response coming from the two countries, for instance Access Bank has become one of Nigeria’s banks in South Africa known as GroBank, Dangote has always been present there too also in Nigeria we have over 100 South Africa companies which are major driver in terms of employment and at the same time, paying their tax. In other words, in South Africa, we have more Nigerian SMEs operating there while we have major businesses from South Africa” he concluded.

During the session, Florence Bola-Balogun, an Associate of AELEX Law Firm took participants through the legal procedure of what it takes to operate business in Nigeria, while Davids Malachi, Gateway Manager of DHL outlined the benefits participants stands to gain by partnering with the logistics company.

Business Executives from both South Africa and Nigeria are present during the 2023 Nigeria/South Africa Business Networking Meeting and top government officials.

Grandieu Nigeria, Project and Event Coordinator for the WESGRO Trade Mission, Ms. Margaret ChiChi Nkire, disclosed that a total number of 13 South African companies were present at the event as against last year’s number which was 24 companies in manufacturing, ICT/Digital Technology, Agro Industry/Engineering, Transportation/Logistics, Tourism, Construction, Film, Media and Communication, among other sectors were part of this year’s business seminar which is a yearly event and amidst the downside effect of fuel subsidy removal which saw prices of goods and services inflated, this year’s event was successful and well attended by all partners and stakeholders.

The South African business delegates were hosted on day 3 of the event at a breakfast meeting by the event partners, the Nigeria-South Africa Chamber of Commerce and industry were they had business interactions with members of the chamber and a robust presentation and conversation around current immigration laws as it relates to doing business in Nigeria for foreigners was given by Mrs. Moremi Soyinka Onijala and Jackson Etti & Edu

Ms.Nkire however reiterated that more support for SMEs is required by governments of African countries to provide the expected enabling environment for them to thrive optimally particularly the private stakeholders and chambers of commerce in African countries which will positively achieve the set goals of African Continental Free Trade” (AfCTA) and drastically reduce poverty in Africa.

The 2023 Nigeria/South Africa Trade Mission had in attendance top government officials and business executives from both countries at the opening presentations and the B2B meetings. In attendance was the Divisional Head Large Enterprises , Bank of Industry Nigeria, Dr. Isa E. Omgu, representatives from ECDC, Colleen Naledi Siwisa Trade Advisor ECDC, South Africa Tourism Board, Mr. Thekiso Rakolojane, Regional Head: West Africa, Mr. Mohammed Tanko Kwajaffa, Trade Relations Manager: West Africa, South Africa Consular Office, Sebo Lenyai, Ziphozhihle Ntlanganiso Senior Private client Consultant Crigomen Africa( Pty) LTD amoung others.

Others were top executives from various key economic sectors in Nigeria such as in the banking sector; First Bank, Stanbic IBTC ,UBA and other small businesses and large corporations.

Highlights of the yearly event was networking of private sector stakeholders of the two participating countries and business interactions made.