SAITEX 2009

Since its inception in 1993 SAITEX – The Southern African International Trade Exhibition- has successfully promoted increasing international trade between South Africa, African and foreign companies. It has traditionally been the only multi-sectoral trade fair of its size and kind on the continent and annually plays host to hundreds of exhibitors showcasing products, technologies, services and opportunities from all over the world. With the acquisition of SAITEX by Exhibition Management Services in 2008 a programme was put into place to refresh, revitalize and reposition the event. The timing was changed from its traditional October slot and brought forward to July to allow the event to be co-located with Africa’s Big Seven (AB7). The immediate benefit of this being the increased networking available to SAITEX exhibitors from AB7’s large and existing visitorship currently emanating from 45 countries. The show’s ability to translate export, import, development and investment opportunities into reality in sub Saharan Africa has long been proven. Marketing plans are now in place to roll this business out throughout the continent. And finally EMS intend “fine tuning” SAITEX’s multi-sectoral character to emphasis more of an export ready/retail ready exhibit profile that will encourage the attendance of more agents, buyers, traders, distributors and importers from the rest of the continent.