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Introduction

The Department of Trade and Industry participates in selected trade fairs and exhibitions abroad by means of National Pavilions and mini National Pavilions. Assistance is therefore provided to qualifying South African exporters to introduce South African products into foreign markerts by participating in suitable foreign exhibitions in a cost-effective manner.

The National Pavilion scheme is divided into two parts:

1. National Pavilions and mini-National Pavilions held at trade fairs abroad
2. National Pavilions and mini-National Pavilions held at local South African trade fairs

1. National Pavilions and mini-National Pavilions held at trade fairs abroad

The Department of Trade and Industry participates in selected trade fairs and exhibitions abroad by means of National Pavilions or mini-National Pavilions. Assistance is therefore provided to qualifying South African exporters to introduce South African products into foreign markets by participating in approved foreign exhibitions in a cost effective manner.

Assistance can also be granted to an Export Trading House or a Commission Agent representing at least three (3) SMME's or HDI owned businesses with potential and capacity to export and wanting to penetrate world markets with their products. These pavilions are organiSed in specialiSed sectoral professional trade fairs in priority markets.

A Mini National Pavilion is an official country participation, on a small scale, in major trade fairs or exhibitions abroad, which showcases the country, its industries, strengths, comparative advantages and houses exhibiting firms.

The processes to be followed for the organisation and the realisation of Mini National Pavilions, when thedti is not the organiser, are described in a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) document, prepared by EMIA, which is available to the organisers of Mini-National Pavilions, such as Export Councils and Industry Associations.

National Pavilions and mini-National Pavilions held at local trade fairs

This is a specific offering to support specific domestic industry National Pavilions where the assistance is towards participating companies and not a sponsorship to the organisers of the event. Domestic Pavilions may only be organised at exhibitions which bear the Exhibitions Organisation of South Africa (EXSA) stamp of approval.

There are a certain number of benefits of organising National Pavilions in South Africa. These include, benefits to the local exhibition industry, the local travel, hotel and hospitality industry and the economy in general. Holding such events locally has the advantage of the foreign buyers being able to see probably a larger number of South African firms than they would have seen at an exhibition abroad and also being able to possibly visit the factories of a certain number of these firms.

By promoting certain priority South African specialised sector exhibitions, offering financial assistance to participating South African companies and providing assistance to foreign buyers under the Inward Buyers Mission Scheme the following can be achieved:

• Showcasing South African industry and firms in South Africa
• Foreign buyers can see a wider range of products, firms and capabilities than a foreign exhibition and can also visit firms at their premises/factories after the exhibition
• The foreign buyers have the opportunity to experience the South African lifestyle
• The foreign buyers are able to focus their attention on the South African firms compared to large foreign exhibitions where firms from around the world are present
• These exhibitions can be used to have a South African industry stand to showcase the particular industry and include emerging BEEs and SMMEs.

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