Trade Missions to S.A.                                              

The Council's Southern Africa Trade Office, established 1999, created customized appointment schedules for each delegate to meet with pre-qualified South African buyers, representatives and end-users. The trade office also provided logistical support and arranged a series of business briefings and networking events for the group including a breakfast hosted by US Consul General Jill Derderian in Durban.

For General Contractors & Assemblers, Inc. (GCA), located in Racine, Wisconsin, the mission was their first foray into the South African market. GCA manufactures a water purifying and sanitizing solution used by campers, armed forces, relief missions and in areas where the water is suspect. GCA President George Stinson said, “I would like to thank all those involved in the mission. It was well planned and I enjoyed visiting Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town and meeting the people of South Africa. The quality and depth of the distributors and end-users I met with was excellent. Everyone was interested in our product. I not only see potential relationships with distributors in South Africa but also surrounding Southern African countries.”

Similarly, the South African market was accepting to other companies. Michael Cordier, Vice President of Fizika Group which is based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, commented, "The CGLG trade mission to South Africa exposed our partner's products and programs to a whole new market and was well received by local distributors. It is the direct result of hard work by an incredible team who dedicated many months to ensure the success of 10 days of appointments. This trade mission exceeded all expectations. Thank you!"

The mission proved successful even for those companies in specialized markets. "As a provider of aquaculture feeds, Zeigler Bros., Inc. serves a very unique market. Despite decades of export experience, entering the African market had proven challenging,” said Chris Stock, Global Brand Manager, Zeigler Bros., Inc. located in Gardners, Pennsylvania,. He added, “As a result of CGLG's trade mission to South Africa, we were able to establish a large number of prospective business partners, gain important knowledge of the regional market and position our company to compete in the South African market and the region as a whole. CGLG's ability to identify and bring together potential business partners for Zeigler Bros., Inc. through the recent trade mission has created tremendous opportunities for our company."

Jeff Kane, Sales and Marketing Manager for DFT, Inc. of Exton, Pennsylvania, commented, "The trade mission sponsored to South Africa by the CGLG and the State of Pennsylvania far exceeded my expectations. When I thought the trip could not get any better, it did. Itineraries were perfect and the trip was professionally managed down to the last detail. All of my appointments were scheduled with companies that I actually have opportunities of receiving future business. If all CGLG trade missions are conducted like this one, please let me know when I can join the next."

* Taken from The Council of Great Lakes Governors' quarterly newsletter, The Compass 2011, Issue 1. More Compass Newsletters can be accessed here.