Targeting business travellers
A NEW international trade and exhibition centre is planned for the international arrivals terminal at Johannesburg International Airport (JIA).
It is to be developed by the Airports Company of SA (Acsa), the National African Federated Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Nafcoc) in Gauteng and the International Trade Bureau (ITB).
Motivation for the scheme is that almost 13million passengers moved through JIA in 2003 and an estimated 1.2-m of those were business travellers arriving at JIA.
“The Johannesburg International Trade Bureau (JITB) will be a permanent exhibition facility offering SA exporters unparalleled access to international business visitors and thereby international markets.”
Bongani Maseko, GM of JIA, sees the JITB as a powerful tool in bringing these foreign markets and local exhibitors together.
“The trade bureau will exploit JIA’s position as a hub airport, offering a point of convergence for business and commercial opportunities, drawing business into SA - and thereby strengthening and building the economy,” Maseko said.
The joint venture between Acsa, Nafcoc (Gauteng) and the ITB is expected to cost R15million, and is due to be completed early next year.
