Industry News
Matrade rolls out six more initiatives for SME exporters
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) has rolled out six more inititatives under the market development grant (MDG) for exporters amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Google launches a series of programmes to support small businesses in Africa
Google has kicked off a series of programmes that will support the growth and recovery of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Africa’s post-Covid economy. The programmes will be rolled out throughout the month of June.
Patel says vision for R200bn in additional localisation has top-level corporate backing
Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Ebrahim Patel announced that an “accord” had been reached at the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) to drive progressive localisation of up to R200-billion of additional production over a five-year period.
Understanding customer needs and maintaining business agility
Not understanding your customer needs is a tough situation to find yourself in when you are a business that relies on lengthy planning and approval timeframes, but not so much for e-commerce – unless you are not listening.
African industrialisation and intracontinental trade can lead to an employment boom
Africa has the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of Asia’s manufacturing giants over the next decade, using industrialisation as a strategy to uplift millions of people from poverty and create jobs for its burgeoning young population. In doing so, it could reinvent itself as the world’s next production powerhouse.
African countries reach tipping point for e-commerce adoption – PayU data
South Africa’s m-commerce up 35%, Nigeria is Africa’s biggest e-commerce market, and Kenya primed for massive growth
AfCFTA offers massive economic opportunities, but there is still much work to be done
The Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement came into effect on the 1 January 2021. A total of 54 of Africa’s 55 countries have agreed, in principle, to participate in the agreement, and 41 have submitted their tariff offers.
Coca-Cola women empowerment programme benefits millions in Africa
Cola-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA), Africa’s largest Coca-Cola bottling partner, has released audited results of the Coca-Cola system’s 5by20 women empowerment programme, which revealed that 2 million women in Africa have been equipped through the initiative to succeed as entrepreneurs.
Amazon to set up South African headquarters in R4 billion Cape Town development
The City of Cape Town has greenlit the R4 billion River Club mixed-use development, which will be the new home of retail giant Amazon in Africa.
How ERP Solutions Help the Retail Pharmacy Sector Gain Valuable Business Insights
The pharmaceutical industry is faced with a multitude of challenges, including a rapidly changing landscape, competitive pressures, and the supply chain challenges wrought by the global COVID-19 outbreak. With a COVID-19 vaccine likely to be available in early 2021, we can expect even more pressure on the distribution chain.
5 categories that could lead retail’s recovery in 2021
While StatsSA’s latest figures show retail trade falling 3.5% year-on-year from 2019 to 2020, continuing a 10-month downward spiral, South Africa’s retailers are starting to show signs of adapting to the needs of the changing market.
Patel calls for stronger partnership for manufacturing to benefit from Brics
Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Ebrahim Patel has called for deeper partnerships and the use of both demand- and supply-side measures to strengthen South African manufacturing capability and enable the country to benefit from opportunities in the Brazil, Russia, India, China and South African (Brics) markets.
Leading SA influencer agency launches innovative digital solution connecting retailers directly to influencers
The pandemic saw thousands of businesses close their doors due to lockdowns with small businesses taking the biggest knock. Yet for two South African entrepreneurs, the crisis presented a unique opportunity to collaborate and create new, digitally-enabled business models…demonstrating the importance of the start-up mentality to economic growth and sustainability.
6 reasons why Africa’s new free trade area is a global game changer
AfCFTA, the largest global free trade area by countries participating, could transform the continent’s economic prospects.
It aims to be a model of cross-border cooperation in an era of growing isolationism.
The agreement must overcome implementation challenges to realize its many benefits.
Cashbuild more than doubles profit as expansion continues
Cashbuild, SA’s largest retailer of building materials, has more than doubled its interim profit and is continuing its expansion as Covid-19 drives impressive growth in demand for home improvement.
