Investing in South Africa

Business info centre for Kruger Airport

Tshwarelo eseng Mogakane

27 October 2009

An information centre targeting local and international business tourists is to open at Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport next week.

The Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency (Mega) plans to use the centre to inform business owners about investment opportunities available in the province.

"The purpose of this centre is to collect, consolidate and disseminate business-related information to local and international businesses that come in and out of the province through the airport," Mega spokesperson Linah Ledwaba said in Nelspruit this week.

Maximising potential

Ledwaba said an estimated 25 000 people passed through the airport each month, which added up to around 300 000 visitors a year, half of whom were foreigners.

Ledwaba said the centre would market Mpumalanga as an investment destination and international trade hub, and would link domestic suppliers, investors and buyers with their international counterparts.

The centre is also expected to maximise potential stemming from the 2010 Fifa World Cup, especially because some games will be hosted at the Mbombela Stadium outside Nelspruit.

Promoting business activity

National Federated Chamber of Commerce (Nafcoc) provincial CEO Twice Gweu welcomed the opening of the centre, saying that any initiative promoting business activity and the generation of income for aspiring business owners deserved support.

He said the chamber would attend the opening, and would also discuss with Mega the possibility of operating similar centres in local municipalities to support small businesses in the province.

"Nafcoc has 15 branches across the province," he said. "Small business owners are free to use our offices, and we are ready to work with Mega to turn those into similar information centres."

Source: BuaNews