Page 6 - KZN Business Sense 9.2

PROFLIGHT ZAMBIA RESUMES DIRECT FLIGHTS

BETWEEN DURBAN AND LUSAKA

urban Direct is are already many companies these air services facilitates greater
pleased to welcome operating in both Zambia and leisure and business travel into
Dthe resumption of South Africa. The improved air Durban. Growing intra-Africa
air services between Lusaka, connectivity will make it easier travel is also a key component of
Zambia and Durban, South for businesses to travel between our broader strategy to ensure
Africa. The flights started on the two countries, facilitating even competitiveness, which is further
6 April 2023 and will operate greater trade and investment,” said enabled by the addition of this air
on Thursdays and Sundays.. Mr Siboniso Duma the MEC for connectivity.”
Economic Development, Tourism
The launch of these air services He continued “We’re committed
will provide a significant boost to and Environmental Affairs and the to growing our involvement in
leader of Government Business in
the volume of travellers between KwaZulu-Natal. Durban Direct, through which
Zambia and South Africa. In we were able to acquire these
2021 and 2022 travel between the The new route will also provide a new flights, in order to grow our
two destinations experienced a much-needed boost to the tourism programme of attracting new air
38% growth, while over the same industry, with Zambia and South services into the city.
period, South Africa’s exports Africa both being popular tourist The launch of this new air service
to Zambia grew by R 1,6 billion destinations. Zambia is known is also expected to create job At the launch of the first flight were Mr Siboniso Duma, MEC for Economic
making Zambia amongst South for its wildlife, natural beauty, opportunities in both Zambia and Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, eThekwini Municipality,
Africa’s key trading partners and adventure activities, while South Africa. As more tourists Mayor Cllr Mxolisi Kaunda and staff of ProFlight Zambia and Durban Direct.
within southern Africa. KwaZulu-Natal is famous for its and business travellers visit the
beaches, arts and entertainment. two destinations, there will be Lusaka to Durban, it supports business links between the two
“As the government of KwaZulu-
Natal, we are pleased to welcome The mayor of eThekwini, Cllr. increased demand for hospitality our collective efforts to restoring destinations.” 
and service industry jobs.
these air services flown by Mxolisi Kaunda expressed his air connectivity into KwaZulu- www.invest.durban
ProFlight Zambia. This new air excitement for Proflight’s return. Nkosinathi Myataza, regional Natal. The resumption of the air
service will undoubtedly play a “We are thrilled to have ProFlight general manager of the Airports service is a positive development
role in strengthening the business flying back to Durban. As the Company South Africa, for both Zambia and South
links between the two destinations, tourism industry is gradually concluded “We’re pleased to Africa, with the potential
especially considering that there recovering, the resumption of reintroduce direct flights from to boost trade, tourism, and

FINDING AND DEVELOPING YOUR COMPANY’S

FUTURE LOCAL SUPPLIERS

HOW A BUSINESS ACCELERATOR PROGRAMME CAN DRIVE YOUR GROWTH STRATEGY

ny leading industrial Yet, finding and developing the Head of Accelerators at BMA. them with customers (if at all), subsequent years) and creating
enterprise in South Africa ‘right’ suppliers have the potential Ballard lists six key with mixed results at best. Instead, more than 150 new jobs.
Aknows first-hand the to set your growth strategy up differentiators that a leading a Business Accelerator should “Companies operating in South
struggle of finding and developing for success and this is where a industrial enterprise should customise upgrading based on the Africa’s chemical sector are always
new local suppliers efficiently Business Accelerator programme consider when selecting a Business nature of the identified commercial on the lookout for high potential
and effectively, especially small comes into play. Accelerator that is right for them. opportunity thereby bridging the SMMEs to work with and the
and medium enterprises (SMEs). How a Business Accelerator can often challenging and frustrating DCC Accelerator makes it so easy
How to ‘cast a wide enough net’ help your business Selection Driven By Customer gap between high-potential to identify potential partners.
to find potential vendors outside Needs enterprises and purchase orders We’ve met some high-calibre
of known networks and rapidly “If designed using a tested An Accelerator should first seek being placed. talent with brilliant business cases
identify ‘promising candidates’ methodology, a Business to understand what the customer’s Maximise B-BBEE Spend within through the Accelerator.” Rudi
to avoid wasting resources on Accelerator programme should needs are, with all subsequent the Value Chain van Niekerk, Regional General
vendors that do not offer long-term be able to find and develop your phases of the programme then Manager of H&R Africa.
future, local suppliers, whilst
growth potential. How to establish simultaneously optimising geared towards delivering on those B-BBEE points can be secured Another example is the
if potential vendors are committed B-BBEE outcomes. It must be confirmed requirements. This is through various mechanisms, KwaZulu-Natal Clothing &
often tangential to the core
to you as a customer, capable of able to identify high potential, distinct from many other SME business of a corporate. An Textile Custer Accelerator which
delivering, competitive (on price, committed suppliers, connect them development programmes, which Accelerator, however, should has, since its inception, unlocked
quality, reliability, etc.), compliant, with customers and unlock clear, seek to identify what is deemed provide an opportunity to 14 new commercial commitments
have the capacity to handle your scalable commercial opportunities to be “a good business” without direct B-BBEE spend towards between leading retailers in the
required volumes, and can manage through robust upgrading clarity on what the ultimate capacitating and aligning a lead local clothing and textile sector,
typical cash constraints. interventions,” says Kyle Ballard, customer wants. enterprise’s value chain to directly resulting in over R10.4 million
Competitive Placement of SMEs support its growth strategy. in new revenue and creating over
An Accelerator needs to be This ultimately results in a far 120 new jobs.
structured to identify high- more strategic use of B-BBEE “It’s been an unbelievable
quality SMEs who are prepared expenditure as an enabler of experience to see the calibre of local
to demonstrate their potential its own growth as opposed to supply, the potential opportunities
to customers, as opposed to distracting from it. and how Mr Price can partner
simply Ato identify high- The Durban Chemicals Cluster with these SMEs for future growth
potential candidates, supported (DCC) Accelerator is one such and reach our localisation targets,”
to put their best foot forward, programme that since 2019 shares Paulina Urban, Sourcing
and ultimately selected by the has successfully unlocked 33 Director at Mr Price Sport. 
customers themselves. new commercial commitments
between leading corporates Lead enterprises and other
Customised Upgrading and SMEs, adding up to more stakeholders interested in partnering
Many SME programmes improve than R24.5 million in new with the Accelerator can visit
www.bmanalysts.com/our-services/
SMEs according to a generic revenue created in the first year accelerators/ or contact
Joudalle Govender and TK Govender who are breaking boundaries in the local methodology and then try to match (typically growing beyond this in Accelerators@bmanalysts.com for more
clothing and textile sector. information.

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