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Inward Buying Missions

In the case of Inward-bound Buying Missions there will always be a qualifying organising body which must be a recognised industry association such as a Chamber of Commerce, Industry Association, Provincial Investment Promotion Agency (PIPA), Export Council, Official Provincial or Local Government Trade Promotion Office (TPO), or thedti. The role of the organising body is to invite delegations of buyers to South Africa to meet and network with local exporters (within an industry or geographic region) and ultimately to place orders with these exporters.

Missions should be confined to small manageable groups of three (3) or more foreign buyers. Only one business executive with contracting authority per foreign entity will qualify for the mission. The representative should be a senior executive with the necessary authority to conclude contracts on behalf of the firm. The mission must be aligned with thedti's sector strategy. No follow up visits will be financed by EMIA.

Other types of inward-bound missions

The EMIA Group Inward-bound Mission offerings have been extended to include the following:

• Lobbying/Bidding missions.
• Participation at local events/exhibitions
• Foreign Buyer Assistance

Lobbying/Bidding Missions

Lobbying/Bidding Missions would be utilised by the:

• Contracting and consulting engineers industries;
• Capital goods industry
• Electrotechnical industry
• Tourism industry

The purpose of these Lobbying/Bidding Missions would be to lobby/bid for international projects or the hosting of major international events. These would include missions to the World Bank, African Development Bank etc. Bidding Missions would also include the hosting of international inspection committees who have to visit South Africa as part of the bidding process.

Note: The financial benefits of the abovementioned offerings is the same as for the current Inward-bound Mission Scheme.

Inward-bound Mission to attend a local event/exhibition

The purpose behind this assistance is to enable selected potential foreign buyers to attend a local event or exhibitions with the purpose of meeting and networking with local exporters. Such assistance is normally restricted to a limited number of foreign buyers and is usually organised by a local South African industry association or regional body.

Foreign Buyer Assistance

Foreign Buyer Assistance to representatives of major international purchasing concerns in order to visit a South African National Pavilion at an international trade fair/show to ensure meetings with the South African exhibitors at the Pavilion and to place export orders with them. The offering will be applicable to high-level (executive) officials who would make a difference to the buying decisions and must be well motivated and substantiated by the applicant. This offering would be at the absolute discretion of the Director: Export Promotion and by special invitation only.

Under the Foreign Buyer Assiatnce Scheme, the representative must be a Board Member, Director, Non-Executive Director of the company. Additional factors that will be taken into consideration in approving this assistance, include:

• Buying power of the company - Size of the company and the value of existing imports
• Status of the business to be conducted - value of the investments/goods considered for purchasing
• Types of products to be sourced (quantities and possible value of sales)
• The relevant Foreign Economic Representative should further submit a detailed motivation for inviting the company, indicating:
  • The likelihood of the invited company to source from South African companies at the event
  • The level of interaction with South African companies prior to the event.

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