NMBM's inaugural Youth Trade and Export Summit zooms into the acceleration of youth economic emancipation

Posted: 28 June 2023

The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Youth in Trade & Exports summit took place at the NMB Stadium. The first panel discussion zoomed into "The importance of exports and trade agreements". Members of the panel were Lungisa Lutshaba from Analit Africa, Ashwin Daya from NMB Business Chamber and Phakamisa George from ECDC, and was moderated by Luvuyo Bangazi from Mandela Bay Development Agency.

The second panel discussion took place under the topic "Market access and foreign trade". This session was moderated by Lee-Ann Vasi from Businesswoman's Association Gqeberha. Discussing this interesting topic were Gerda Smit from Coega Development Corporation, Violet Lupuwana from Chumile Holdings, Gareth Burley from Microcare Solar Energy and Athi Lupondwana from ROVD Engineering.

The third panel discussion unpacked "Incentives and business support". Moderating this session was Grant Tobias from The Business Place. Giving small businesses advice on incentives and business support were Brenden Adriaanzen from DG Incentives, Phelo Stuurman from Standard Bank, Phumzo Tshikitshwa from EMIA, Colleen Siwisa from ECDC and Jeremy Dobbin from NMBM Trade and Investment. The panelists urged small businesses to craft business plans so they have a clear plan for their businesses.

Discussing the fourth topic, under the theme "Compliance and export logistics"were Lance Petersen from JAS Worldwide, Mbalenhle Madlala from Transnet National Ports Authority, Mark Rodgers from SARS, Chuma Tshangela from Liphumile Projects and Mpho Rambau from ACSA who is joining the session online from Kenya, and was moderated by Weza Moss from Acoustex.
During this interactive session, businesses were informed on what the requirements are to export goods as well as the risks and costs involved when exporting products.

"Sector-specific opportunities: the ocean economy, was the theme of the fifth discussion", Purity Khoza from Raggy Charters, Ofentse Sebitlo from Transnet National Ports Authority, Unathi Sonti from Maritime Business Chamber and Odwa Mtati from the SA International Maritime Institute were panellists during the segment. The session was moderated by Shaun van Eck from Discover Mandela Bay. During the session, businesses were encouraged to attend incubation programmes and to address imbalances in the ocean economy.

The final discussion focused on the topic "Exports of service - enabled by ICT" which was followed by a question-and-answer session. The final panel discussion was represented by Andile Khanti from Banzo Type Technologies, Masakhane Mlamla from Propella, Lynn Davis from the Business Process Enabling South Africa. This moderator of the session was Linda Sityoshwana from Coega Development Corporation. Businesses were urged to think about the importance of investing in ICT for their businesses and pursue opportunities in ICT as part of the session's deliberations.