A total of 17 companies – representing 30 company officials/employees – from 2 projects we are carrying out within the scope of the Ministry of Economy's İŞİM Cluster UR-GE Project, participated with a stand at the Bauma Africa International Construction Equipment and Technologies Fair held at The Gallagher Convention Centre (GCC) in Johannesburg, South Africa, between September 16-23, 2013.
As part of the Ministry of Economy's UR-GE (Development of International Competitiveness) Project / Overseas Marketing Activity, the Construction and Industrial Machinery Cluster (İŞİM) participated with a stand at the 2nd International Construction Equipment and Technologies Fair in Johannesburg, South Africa, between September 16-23, 2013. This participation involved a total of 17 companies from two separate projects: the Project for Increasing the International Competitiveness of Light Construction Machinery and Spare Parts Companies and the Project for Increasing the International Competitiveness of Construction and Industrial Machinery Cluster (İŞİM) Construction Machinery and Spare Parts Companies. The delegation consisted of 30 people.
Our 30-person trade delegation, comprised of members from the İŞİM Cluster, was welcomed at the airport by Pretoria Commercial Attaché Mr. Hakan Karabalık. On the first day of the Bauma Africa fair, coinciding with the opening ceremony, Our Ambassador to Pretoria Mr. Kaan Esener paid a special visit to our stand, listening to each of our companies individually and providing information about the South African market. Subsequently, Messe Munich Board Chairman Dr. Müller paid a welcome visit to our stand and stated that he would be working specifically on projects for Ostim in future fairs.
The delegation was accompanied by Mr. Ziya Burhanettin Güvenç, Rector of Çankaya University and Chairman of the İŞİM Cluster Board of Directors, Mr. Orhan Aydın, Chairman of the Ostim Organized Industrial Zone Board of Directors, and Mr. Adem Arıcı, Regional Manager of Ostim Organized Industrial Zone. UR-GE Project Managers Esma Akyüz and Merve Aksakal, who planned the delegation's 6-day program, were present with the delegation during bilateral business meetings and all other activities. The İŞİM Cluster's 60m² stand at the fair displayed the logos of all participating companies and distributed their catalogs. As part of the third overseas marketing activity, the Bauma Africa fair, B2B matchmaking activities were organized for the companies. Approximately 200 business meetings were held during the fair.
Following our trade fair visit and matchmaking activities, a visit was made to the Black Business Council (BBC) on the second day of the fair. During the meetings, they stated that there is no "middle class" in the region and that creating one is necessary to improve the economy. As a result of these discussions, they requested support from the Ostim administration to create a middle class and improve the economy, and informed us that they had decided to visit Ostim. Also on the same day, our delegation visited the Gauteng Development Agency. At the Gauteng Development Agency, agency officials gave our delegation a presentation and provided information about the opportunities, advantages, and disadvantages of the region and the market.
On the third day of the program, the İŞİM delegation visited the production facilities of Pilot Crustech, a company with a significant presence in the South African mining machinery sector. The company's CEO, Mr. Sandro Scherf, gave the delegation a tour of the production facilities, demonstrating the production technologies firsthand and providing detailed information about the country's conditions that both facilitate and complicate production.
Furthermore, on the evening of the last day of the fair (the 4th day), a South Africa and Turkey Business Networking Meeting was held in the Rosebank Meeting Room of the SATBA Turkish Businessmen Association, bringing together members of the İŞİM Cluster. Approximately 60 people attended the meeting, where all companies had the opportunity to introduce themselves through one-on-one meetings. The meeting, which attracted great interest, was also attended by the Ambassador of South Africa to Pretoria, Mr. Kaan Esener, the Commercial Attaché of Pretoria, Hakan Karabalık, and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of SATBA, Serkan Ergül, who gave informative speeches about entering the South African market. At the end of the meeting, a question-and-answer session was held with microphones circulated in the hall. All questions posed by the İŞİM Cluster members were answered one by one, clarifying the issues of entering the South African market and business development.
With the participation of 30 company officials/employees from a total of 17 firms, as well as Prof. Dr. Ziya Burhanettin Güvenç, Chairman of the Ostim OSB İŞİM Cluster Board of Directors and also Rector of Çankaya University, Ms. Julide Çermikli, Deputy General Director of the Export Department of the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Turkey, Mr. Orhan Aydın, Chairman of the Ostim OSB Board of Directors, and Mr. Adem Arıcı, Regional Manager, and İŞİM Cluster Project Managers Esma Akyüz and Merve Aksakalın, the İŞİM Cluster successfully completed its third overseas trade fair program. The participation in the Bauma Africa International Construction Equipment and Technologies Fair, undertaken as a trade delegation in the Construction and Industrial Machinery Sector, generated significant momentum in South Africa, considered a gateway to the African market for UR-GE Project companies. Efforts will continue to extend this momentum to all sub-Saharan countries.
PIMMAKSAN / MURAT DEMIREL
SOUTH AFRICA IS A NEW AND DYNAMIC MARKET FOR OUR SECTOR.
THE FACT THAT THE INDUSTRY'S MOST PRESTIGIOUS TRADE FAIR IS ALSO HELD IN SOUTH AFRICA SHOWS HOW IMPORTANT AND OPEN TO INNOVATION THIS MARKET IS.
WE PARTICIPATED IN THIS ORGANIZATION FOR THE FIRST TIME WITH THE BUSINESS CLUSTER AND WE DID NOT EXPERIENCE ANY PROBLEMS. WE WERE INFORMED THROUGH USEFUL MEETINGS AND WE EXPECT THESE ORGANIZATIONS TO BE EVEN BETTER AND MORE BENEFICIAL IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU.
KARBA AUTOMOTIVE / İLTERİŞ ZİREK
“Even if you don’t know the language of the country you want to do business with, you have to know its culture.
This trip may not have resulted in the conclusion of large-scale trade agreements;
But he introduced South African culture to OSTİM entrepreneurs and gave them ideas on what needs to be done to do business in South Africa.
Thank you to the management of İŞİM and OSTİM for taking us to almost the southernmost point of the world and trying to open trade doors for us there.
Ostim Investment Inc./ Berk Başdoğan
Our İŞİM cluster, as part of its projects to improve international competitiveness, achieved another success by participating with a stand at BAUMA Africa, one of the world's most important construction fairs, which was held for the second time this year. The fair, which was extremely beneficial for Ostim businesspeople and industrialists in finding new markets and gaining a competitive edge in the international arena, resulted in numerous bilateral business meetings and the establishment of many connections. We would like to thank the Ministry of Economy and the Ostim Organized Industrial Zone administration for their support.
AYDINONAT COLL. LTD. / YAVUZ SELİM AYDINONAT
"I AM PROUD TO HAVE REPRESENTED OUR COUNTRY AND PRODUCTS AT THE BAUMA AFRICA 2013 CONSTRUCTION AND BUSINESS MACHINERY SPECIALIZED FAIR, HELD THIS YEAR, ALONGSIDE THE VALUABLE MEMBERS AND MANAGEMENT TEAM OF THE ISIM CLUSTER."
Given South Africa's reconstruction process and, most importantly, its position as one of the gateways to the sub-Saharan region, we believe that by working hard, producing quality products, and offering competitive prices, we will achieve success in this region, which was discovered before us.
I BELIEVE IT. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Ministry of Economy for their support.
KIND REGARDS,
Seçkin Makine / Onur Yaşar
First of all, thank you for the organization you did for the Bauma trade fair.
The Bauma 2013 trade fair, which is essential for entering the challenging and demanding South African market, is important for our company and the country's economy.
I believe this will be very beneficial. I would also like to thank you and your organization for the opportunities provided to us by the Ostim Business Cluster at the relevant fair, which we also attended individually.
ELFA METAL MACHINERY - Ahmet MURAT
Bauma Africa '13 was an extremely valuable event for both me and Elfa Metal Makine. While Africa may seem like a distant and different region to us, I believe this market holds significant potential if we work towards it, and that Turkish manufacturers should be more effective in the African market. I would like to thank the ISIM Cluster officials and the Ministry of Economy for their efforts and support.
ONİŞ CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY - Cenap MERT
During our visit to the bauma Afrca’13 trade fair in Johannesburg, South Africa, we had some very fruitful business meetings and established strong business relationships. I believe that such efforts will greatly benefit our country.
KARDELEN MACHINERY - Ali ÖZBEK
My thoughts on the Bauma Africa trade fair:
The fact that 12 countries located in the same geographical region import through South Africa and have free trade agreements with these countries increases the importance of this fair.
Many developed European countries participated in the fair, and since Africa will be the market of the future, we also need to participate in these fairs. We are planning to participate in the next fair.
We participated in this fair both as visitors and as members of the Ostim Business Cluster, with approximately 17 companies having booths. Fair visitors showed interest in us; we distributed our catalogs and introduced ourselves. We had fruitful business meetings. Since the machines and spare parts produced in Turkey are on par with Italian brands, but at lower prices than Italian companies, we believe there is definitely a place for us in this market.
The event organized by Ostim was very beneficial. We were also visited by the Turkish Ambassador, our Commercial Attaché, and Turkish businesspeople operating there. We had discussions about ideas, opinions, and suggestions.
Overall, we found the organization successful and efficient. Thank you and we wish you continued success in your endeavors.
Kind regards.
ÖZDEM 2 MACHINERY - Alper ÖZDEM
On behalf of ÖZDEM 2 MAKİNA, I would like to express my gratitude to all individuals and institutions involved. Although this was our company's first international trade fair and trip, I felt the unity and warmth of the cluster. I saw that a successful organization had been carried out. I believe that the companies within the İŞİM Cluster are laying the foundation for a strong future and will support us in achieving our goals.
PALME MACHINERY - Sevil CEYLAN
This was our first time participating in this fair, and we also set up our own booth. As a result, we saw that the Bauma Africa Fair is relevant to our company's field of activity, namely construction and industrial machinery, and the country's reconstruction is an advantage for us. Therefore, we recommend it to all companies that can produce higher quality products than those from China and India.
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