November 1, 2007: For the first time, South Africa is to showcase its products and services in a major trade exhibition to be held in London in March 2008. Seen as the opportunity to secure foreign investment in Southern Africa, the exhibition promises to be a ‘must’ for a multitude of businesses from the region.
Perhaps most importantly, the event is supported by both the South African and British dti’s, acting as a natural pre-cursor to the huge marketing campaign that has already started for the 2010 Soccer World Cup. South Africa’s own dti has supported the show with an all-encompassing 750 square metre exhibition stand on two levels, incorporating the nine provinces as well as twenty-five dti sponsored stands.

Other participants include Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), and the Ekhurhuleni Municipality, as well as key players from industry sectors such as property, tourism, minerals, shipping and construction.

Billed as the biggest exhibition of its kind, SATIE (South African Trade and Investment Exhibition - The Big Business Exhibition in London is the only platform that takes Brand SA and Southern African countries to showcase their immense capabilities and market these to the rest of the world.

“We feel it presents a golden opportunity for both established and fledgling companies. There really is no other platform that could so professionally show what Southern Africa has to offer the rest of the world,” says Richard Fletcher, MD of TopCo Media.

“They have already seen and understood the concept of this major exhibition and realise the many opportunities for investment in both themselves as companies and for Southern Africa as whole,” adds Fletcher.

The exhibition will run from the 30 March – 1 April 2008 and is being held at the vast ExCel exhibition centre in London, a purpose-built facility. With its great transport links and a London-based marketing campaign, the event is made accessible to a host of the capital’s top decision makers and money men.

With the World Cup playing a major role in the marketing of the exhibition and on the back of the recent Rugby World Cup win by the Springboks, the interest in Southern African products and services has greatly increased. Once again, the British now recognise the strength and inimitable opportunities that South Africa represents.