Warding off the Chinese challenge

Growing cross-border
exports is not as easy as
one would think – despite
political talk of growing intraregional
trade, says Maverick
Trading’s Cedric Simons.
“The competition has
been increasing and that
is our big challenge now.
The Chinese in Africa are a
reality and they are offering
customers a product that
they can manufacture for a
lot cheaper than what local
companies such as ours
can do,” he says. “We have a
quality product and so we
have to convince customers
that ours is the product they
want to install. We have
to continuously invest in
research and development to
ensure we have a better and
more advanced offering on
the table. Our goal has always
been simple – to be the market
leader in polymer concrete
manhole covers and frames in
Africa.”
There is no question that
a theft-proof unbreakable
manhole cover is needed
locally and cross-border.
“We work closely with
the Department of Trade
and Industry to expand our
market in Africa. The only
constant in today’s world is
change and so we continue
to deliver on our mandate
– giving the market what it
needs.”