ECIC @ AfCFTA & SA SME Export Readiness Event

ECIC was a platinum sponsor of the AfCFTA & SA SME Export Readiness event at the Johannesburg Country Club in Auckland Park on the 12 July 2023. The event was hosted by The Institute of Chartered Entrepreneurs in partnership with Absa. The AfCFTA SA SME Export Readiness initiative presented a unique opportunity for stakeholders to address the weaknesses identified in the SME export ecosystem, as revealed by the SME AfCFTA Awareness Survey undertaken recently by the ECIC.

The survey outcomes provided guidance to the Corporation in terms of appropriate product development interventions, including underwriting considerations from an export credit insurance perspective. ECIC has made it a priority to continuously identify market gaps to produce appropriate interventions to support SMEs accordingly, in export trade.

ECIC’s goal is to help stimulate and empower South African SMEs to participate effectively in the AfCFTA and expand their export activities. Events such as these enhance awareness of the opportunities presented by the AfCFTA for export-inclined SMEs, facilitate access to trade finance, provide capacity building, create trade opportunities, and improve communication strategies.

ECIC Acting Head of PEAR participated on a panel titled ‘Enabling SA SME Export Readiness within the AfCFTA’ moderated by Khaya Sithole, CA(SA) as well as delivered a presentation under the topic ‘Understanding the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) and its Implications for South African SMEs’ which investigates key insights of the AfCFTA and its potential impact on SMEs, opportunities, and challenges in the context of AfCFTA followed by a Q & A.

ECIC also had a dedicated exhibition booth to showcase products, services, and solutions, allowing direct engagement with attendees.