Exhibitions for Africa's (previously Reed Exhibitions) KwaZulu-Natal Industrial Trade Show was sitting at 78% full by 27 March - and with a month to go, potential exhibitors are urged to commit to what the organisers believe promises to be a really good show.
Sponsor, Ithala Development Finance Corporation (Ithala) is excited about the potential for generating business that the show offers. Ithala's vision is in part "... for Ithala to be the preferred partner in socio-economic development, instrumental in creating sustainable economic growth ..."
Wellington Ngcobo, Ithala's properties executive said "We have a number of marketing exercises across various business sectors but we definitely regard the KZN Industrial Trade Show as an important opportunity for both our clients and ourselves to promote sustainable economic development in the KZN region."
Exhibitions for Africa's commercial director, Dev Naidoo, says "we are pleased to be working with Ithala; our visions work together to benefit exhibitors - Exhibitions for Africa's aim being to deliver business contacts that create value for our customers."
A wide range of industrial fields and technologies will be covered by the show. These include, mechanical and materials handling, electrical and electronic, chemical and plastic, business solutions, instrumentation and control, safety, health and the environment. KZN Industrial Trade Show sales manager, Zia Tomes says, "With only two months to go we are fast approaching capacity on floor space, so if anyone is interested in exhibiting they should not delay."
This year's exhibition is the 11th show since Reed Exhibitions founded it 19 years ago. To keep abreast of new technology and industry trends visit the KZN Industrial Trade Show at the Durban Exhibition Centre from 27-30 May 2003.
Grants
KZN Trade Show sponsor, Ithala offers help applying for government incentives. A range of seven government incentive packages are available to manufacturers and traders, but are generally unknown to investors. Ithala has details of all seven and is in a position to directly assist clients in preparing applications for two of these.
Incentive packages readers could find interesting and worth pursuing include the following:
Small Medium Enterprise Development Programme (SMEDP): Available to new and expanding businesses (manufacturing, agriculture, agri-processing, aqua-culture, bio-technology, tourism, IT, culture industry, business service concerns, and recycling) for investments not exceeding R100 million and paid to qualifying investors for three years in the form of tax-free grants. The amount may vary between 15% and 30% of the qualifying investment.
Foreign investment grant (FIG): Available to new manufacturing concerns with a minimum of 50% foreign shareholding, being compensation for the shipment of new plant to South Africa, and may not exceed R3 million.
Strategic Industrial Projects (SIP): Being tax relief to qualifying manufacturing businesses with investments in assets exceeding R50 million, limited to R300 million or, where preferred status is granted, R600 million. An amount of 50% of the value of qualifying assets may be written off in the first year.
Critical Infrastructure Fund (CIF): Provides finance for developing or upgrading infrastructure to support or service new investments and expansions. It is available to projects with costs of at least R15 million and limited to between 10% and 30% of these costs.
Skills Support Programme (SSP): Being a cash grant to support enterprises that qualify for the SMEDP and SIP and engaging in skills development programmes. It is limited to 50% of training costs to a maximum of 30% of the annual wage bill, over three years.
Competitiveness Fund: Allows businesses access to research, knowledge and markets.
Export Marketing and Investment Assistance Scheme (EMIA): Offers partial compensation to exporters for certain costs incurred in developing export markets for South African products and services and to recruit new FDI into South Africa.
For more information about these incentive packages, contact Ithala's Marketing Division or visit its stand at Exhibitions for Africa, KwaZulu-Natal Industrial Trade Show from 27-30 May 2003 at the Durban Exhibition Centre.
For more information contact Exhibitions for Africa, 011 886 3734.
© Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd | All Rights Reserved
printer friendly version