Johannesburg Airport to Get Trade Centre

February 12, 2004

Johannesburg Airport to Get Trade Centre
Business Day, South Africa


A multimillion rand business hub will constructed at
the Johannesburg International Airport to serve
foreign investors looking for South African products. 
The Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) in
partnership with National African Federated Chamber of
Commerce and Industry (Nafcoc) and the International
Trade Bureau announced that an international trade and
exhibition centre costing R15 million would be
developed at Johannesburg International Airport. 

The centre, to be called the Johannesburg
International Trade Bureau (JITB), would be a Mecca
for foreign business people and would give foreign
investors access to local markets, said ACSA
spokeswoman Nicky Rose-Innes. 

It is to be built opposite the International Arrivals
section of the airport. The construction is expected
to be completed by the end of the year or early next
year. It would offer permanent exhibition space to 122
of South Africa's premier exporters. 

JITB director Michael Sudarkasa said the industry
sectors to be represented at the centre included
medical, consumer products, electrical and
electronics, mining, metal and allied industries,
business information library, food and beverage,
building materials and hardware, telecommunications
and textile and clothing. 

"We are happy to put together a project that will
benefit and empower local business people.On the door
step of the airport, the busiest airport in Africa,
this centre will be a place where foreign investors
will get information on any products they want in the
country," he said. 

On how the JITB will be marketed, Sudarkasa said: "It
will primarily be marketed to the growing number of
international 
business travellers who visit South Africa." 

He said marketing media would include the in-flight
magazines of airlines flying to and from South Africa,
embassies and consulates and on-site marketing at the
airport's international terminal. 

"JITB will be proactive in attracting foreign markets.
Instead of going out looking for new markets the JITB
will bring foreign 
markets to exhibitors in the trade centre," he said. 

According to Acsa, an estimated 1,2 million business
people visited South Africa in 2003. Foreign business
visitors to South 
Africa came from African countries, North and South
American countries, Asian and Pacific Rim countries,
the Middle East and Indian Ocean islands. 

Sudarkasa said similar trade centres exist in 308
locations in 101 countries, all serving business
travellers to assist private 
and public sector organisations promoting
international trade. 


 Do you have an opinion about this story?
Share it with other readers in our CAA Discussion Forums

http://www.californiaaviation.org/dc/dcboard.php

*****************************************