Trade Point offers marketing option to forwarders

Now one year old “and doing very well, thank you” is Trade Point SA (TPSA), according to Teresa Jardim, the Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda) specialist responsible for TPSA. It is celebrating a happy first birthday, she told FTW, with the satellite offices in Johannesburg, Durban and Nelson Mandela Bay successfully fulfilling their roles in facilitating entry into international markets for smaller companies. Jardim saw the Trade Point concept adding a powerful dimension to Seda’s export development programme (EDP), furthering small enterprise’s exposure to international markets and providing a safe trading platform. “Trade Point facilitates transactions between trading partners,” she said, “as well as offering trade-related information through a database that provides traders with data about market opportunities, potential clients and suppliers. “Essential information on trade regulations and requirements in various countries is also available.” And the three centres already established – in the Chamber of Commerce offices in Durban and Johannesburg, and in Seda’s own premises in Nelson Mandela Bay – will soon be joined by two others. “We have had enquiries from Tshwane region from various chambers and Tshwane city (Pretoria) itself,” said Jardim. “So we are opening a Trade Point there.” Seda also has a keen eye on the growing development and trade along the Maputo Corridor between SA and Mozambique – and a second new centre is to be located at Nelspruit, halfway along the corridor between Gauteng and the Mozambique port city of Maputo. And Jardim has an interesting offer for freight agents. “Freight forwarders,” she said, “should register with us, and become a preferred supplier on our web-page.” You can email Jardim on tpsa@seda.org.za