saibl news feed

Invitation to AMCHAM Workshop on BEE (Equity Equivalents), Killarney Country Club, Houghton, 8 September 2010

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 04:28:33 -0700

Invitation to AMCHAM Workshop on BEE (Equity Equivalents), Killarney Country Club, Houghton, 8 September 2010 (PDF)

27 Aug 2010: Artists of Africa at New York International Gift Show

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 01:57:28 -0700

With the support of saibl, Artists of Africa exhibited at the New York International Gift Show from 13-17 August. They have exhibited at the New York every year since 2006 but this was only the second time they had their own booth, the first being last January. The demand was high with a number of written orders and many new buyers interested in carrying their work. They are hoping more orders will come in for the upcoming holiday season.

25 Aug 2010: Specialty Food and Wine News Issue 1

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 04:22:54 -0700

25 Aug 2010: Specialty Food and Wine News Issue 10

20 Aug 2010: SAIBL Enhances its Social Media Presence

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 00:12:34 -0700

As part of the ongoing effort to enhance and promote saibl's online visibility, saibl has created a range of social media profiles in addition to the saibl website. You can now visit us at any of the following:

13 Aug 2010: BBSDP Network Facilitator Assessment

Fri, 13 Aug 2010 00:28:26 -0700

saibl is currently conducting assessments of Network Facilitators for the DTI�s Black Business Supplier Development Programme. The purpose of the exercise is to test the proficiency of selected consultants in the following areas: understanding of finance, understanding of business, and business writing and communication skills. To date, assessments have been conducted in KwaZulu/Natal, Western Cape and Gauteng. Preliminary indications are that 32 consultants out of the 39 have passed.�At the end of the exercise successful candidates will be invited for training on saibl�s Picking Sound Companies and Company Diagnostics tools.

13 Aug 2010: Foskor Supplier Workshop in Phalaborwa

Fri, 13 Aug 2010 00:26:21 -0700

saibl and Foskor held a joint workshop in Phalaborwa on 20 July for ten of Foskor�s current suppliers that have been registered with saibl. The purpose of the workshop was to inform them of the outcome of the Picking Sound Companies assessment on their companies and to inform them about new opportunities available within Foskor.�They were also briefed on the next stage of assessment, the Company Diagnostics evaluation (CD), to be conducted by independent service providers. Of the ten suppliers, five have been found suitable to proceed to the CD stage. Foskor management reiterated that all invited suppliers would be linked to an opportunity, even those that were not eligible for a CD evaluation by saibl.

13 Aug 2010: saibl Opens Liaison Office in Lusaka

Fri, 13 Aug 2010 00:22:27 -0700

saibl has appointed Mr Wellington Mabula as its trade representative in Lusaka, to help clients interested in exploring and increasing their exposure to the Zambian market. Due to the increasing number of saibl clients in the non-mining sector, it has become important for saibl to have a presence in Zambia (several clients are already doing business with Zambia in the mining sector). The upcoming saibl Trade Mission to Zambia from 12-18 September will also benefit from the establishment of this liaison office. Some clients are currently being linked up with business contacts in Zambia and discussions will be finalized during the trade mission.

11 August 2010: Vacancy Announcement: Certification Officers: SAIBL Programme

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 02:46:22 -0700

ECIAfrica is an implementing partner of the USAID-supported South African International Business Linkages (SAIBL) programme. We are working in partnership with the NBI to create and support the functioning of a corporate-led �South African Supplier Diversity Council (SASDC)� dedicated to promoting supplier diversity development in the supply chains of corporations operating in South Africa. A key element will be to certify black suppliers for registration under the SASDC. The programme is looking to recruit up to 5 certification officers: three in Johannesburg and one each in Cape Town and Durban.

Main Purpose of Job: The officer will be responsible for the evaluation and certification of bona fide black suppliers. This is a fixed term contract position for a minimum period to end March 2011 with a possibility to extend for a further 2 years.

Reporting Structure: Reports to the Field Operations and Certification Manager.

Performance Areas:

- Identify and promote SASDC certification to potential certifiable black suppliers
- Promote the principles of supplier diversity and effectively communicate the Council certification protocols both formally and informally
- Receive, register and check applications for completeness
- Evaluate applications and decide on follow up actions
- Arrange and conduct site assessments
- Prepare reports and recommendations to the Certification Committee
- Maintain complete documentation on all applications
- In support of the Manager: Field Operations and Certification, contribute to the overall process efficiencies and improvements
- Manage annual re-certification of suppliers on the database.

Required Qualifications: A degree, professional qualification, or diploma in business administration, commerce, supply chain or finance.

Experience:

- More than 3 years experience in business, supply chain, enterprise development, auditing, and/or legal commercial work
- USAID or international donor-funded programme experience is desirable (either as a consultant or project staff member).

Required Competencies:

- Strong interpersonal and negotiation skills
- Observant, with strong analytical skills and attention to detail
- Strong ability to manage tensions and difficult situations
- A self starter and stickler for meeting deadlines and deliverables
- Strong oral and written presentation skills
- Self-confident, mature and decisive
- Trustworthy and a good team player

Please note: Interested persons should please forward their detailed CVs to Gloria Victor at gloria.victor@eciafrica.com or fax to 011 802 8134.

The closing date is Friday 20 August 2010.

saibl online business forum

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 01:05:25 -0700

Dear saibl clients

Over the past several months saibl has developed an online business forum and a new user friendly website. Since June, saibl�s Business Forum has hosted more than a dozen experts from fields such as specialty food and wine, tourism, giftware, supplier diversity, website design and branding. These experts have contributed regularly to an online discussion of best practices, trends, and innovations that South African businesses can incorporate into their long-term business strategy for existing and new markets.

In coming weeks, expert contributors will address the automotive supply chain, international trade promotions, and financial services available in South Africa. We invite you to join our conversations with industry experts, keep yourself current in regards to potential business opportunities, and proactively seek business partners.

Additionally, we will be running a monthly feature called �Spotlight on South Africa�, which will highlight the types of positive interventions that saibl is having on South African businesses. If you would like your business featured, email Conor Godfrey at cgodfrey@africacncl.org with any of the following:

Promotional information (news articles/videos, pictures of products/description of services, company history, biography of the owner(s) etc ...
A 150-300 word piece about your company explaining what you do, and why customers should use your product or service.
Any press releases or new information that you would like shared with the South African or American business community.

We hope this Forum offers our clients new and exciting marketing and partnership opportunities, and we look forward to receiving your information.

Best Regards,

The saibl team

10 Aug 2010: Specialty Food and Wine News Issue 9

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 23:41:53 -0700

10 Aug 2010: Specialty Food and Wine News Issue 9

04 Aug 2010: saibl bulletin Issue 4, August 2010

Wed, 04 Aug 2010 01:57:31 -0700

04 Aug 2010: saibl bulletin Issue 4, August 2010

26 Jul 2010: Specialty Food and Wine News Issue 8

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 04:57:06 -0700

26 Jul 2010: Specialty Food and Wine News Issue 8

16 Jul 2010: Laurance Milner of Something South African describes how he selects new products for import

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 01:16:14 -0700

Laurance Milner has been successfully developing and marketing innovative specialty foods in South Africa and the U.S. for over 30 years. Something South African has been a pioneer for African specialty foods in N. America, and in 2007, Laurance launched BISCOTTEA, a company dedicated to showcasing world teas. View the interview with Laurance at the New York Fancy Food Show.
View the video

16 Jul 2010: Koopmanskloof's Importer Featured on CBS Evening News

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 00:42:37 -0700

CBS Evening News with Katie Couric featured Selena Cuffe of Heritage Link Brands, a wine importer determined to add more colour to the landscape of South Africa's wine industry. CBS Evening News interviewed Selena Cuffe and Rydal Jeftha, CEO of saibl client Koopmanskloof at the recent Great South African Wine Show produced by Wines of South Africa at the Tribeca Rooftop in New York City. This was the largest tasting of South African wines in U.S. history; 135 different producers poured over 700 different wines. View the interview.

16 Jul 2010: Reakgona Opens Chemical Plant

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 00:41:40 -0700

Reakgona Commercial and Industrial Hygiene is a 100% BEE Company, jointly owned and managed by Isaac and Nancy Modiselle. The company's core business is the supply of hygiene services, pest control, indoor plants, cleaning, fire fighting equipment and cleaning consumables. Established in 2000, the company has its head office in Pretoria with a provincial head office in Bloemfontein that services the Free State, as well as five branches in Mpumalanga, Limpopo, Northern and Eastern Cape. In order to expand its operations based on the successful business development and exploitation opportunities available in the cleaning and hygiene services industry, Reakgona approached saibl for advice and guidance. A Company Diagnosis identified some areas for improvement and recommended that the company should have a backward linkage process in order to supply own chemicals that would contain or reduce cleaning costs. Based on this recommendation by saibl, a Chemical plant for Reakgona t/a Tshiamo has been set up and is now operational. The plant is producing over 75% of the company's chemical requirements. These chemicals have all been SABS approved.�