A new Eastern Cape business initiative has seen the launch of a one-year Exporter Development Programme designed to eliminate some of the barriers facing SMEs.
A joint initiative by The Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber and the Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC), the programme brings together a combination of interventions aimed at improving the export readiness of companies. This includes modular training by an accredited service provider as well as mentorship with firms in the Bay that are currently exporting.
According to the recently released EC Export Strategy, SMEs face a range of barriers to entry - from intensified international competition to costs relating to marketing, logistics and transport and export documentation.
“The Exporter Development Programme has been designed to assist companies in reducing, or eliminating these barriers,” said Nomkhita Mona, spokesperson for the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber.
