Trade and Industry Correspondent

THE Airports Company SA (Acsa) has approved the establishment of a R15m trade bureau at Johannesburg International Airport to showcase local exporters to over 1,2-million international business travellers who arrive at SA's busiest airport each year.

The initiative, scheduled for completion in a year, follows failed plans to establish a similar facility at the Carlton Centre in central Johannesburg last year.

Private marketing company International Trade Bureau (ITB), which will manage the new facility, said Acsa would fund the construction of the Johannesburg International Trade Bureau and would share the profits with ITB.

Yesterday, after the launch of the project, ITB marketing manager Anton Phispeki said he had no doubt that the bureau would attract exhibitors for the 122 spaces at the facility.

ITB also aimed to reach 50% in terms of occupancy in three months, he said.

Phispeki also said that, ideally, space would be sold to industry associations and export councils, which would allow their members to share the exhibition space on a rotational basis.

ITB said similar trade centres existed in 308 locations in 101 countries.

ITB director Michael Sudarkasa said at the launch function yesterday that instead of going out looking for new markets, the new facility would bring foreign markets to exhibitors at the trade centre.

Phispeki said the cost to exhibit at the centre was "not out of the price range of small and medium companies".

Portfolio manager Irvin Naidoo, of provincial development initiative Blue IQ, said the centre would play a pivotal role in the growth and transformation of the manufacturing sector in Gauteng and SA.

The National African Federated Chamber of Commerce's Gauteng branch is a partner in the project.

Feb 12 2004 07:53:19:000AM Carli Lourens Business Day 1st Edition