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Wesgro Exporter Development Programme (EDP)
The Export Development Programme is an opportunity for established Western Cape based SME companies to improve their international trade management knowledge and expertise.
The EDP aims to:
- create an environment that is supportive and developmental in nature
- enable emerging Western Cape exporters to gain access into international markets
- enable emerging Western Cape exporters to gain access to international opportunities
The EDP enables emerging exporters to:
- overcome barriers and constraints in accessing the global market and business opportunities
- identifying their export needs
- growtheir exports.
The Export Development Program provides:
- vocational training focusing on international trade.
- export competence within local small and medium sized companies.
- the expertise; knowledge and network needed to help businesses grow internationally
- a blend of company practice and export coaching through standardised training modules.
- current information to exporters on various markets and sectors.
- Mentorship that focus on strengthening the export activities of nearly export ready companies
- International mentoring that addresses specific business needs
- Outward Missions aiming to develop emerging exporters by taking them to a foreign market
Export Development Program Levels
Export Development Program (EDP) 1:
This level consists of a one-day Export Readiness and Awareness seminar, focusing on export risk management, export strategy planning, financial risk management, logistics and administration of the export process. This seminar is aimed at new and potential exporters to provide insight into the demands, commitment and influential factors that are associated with an exporting business.
Export Development Program (EDP) 2:
The emphasis of the EDP level 2 is on building the competitive capacity of businesses in order to enable them to export or expand their current exports. The program combines the theory of marketing, planning, market development strategies and international trade logistics with practical assignments based on the day-to-day operations of small businesses. The method of training and development allows for a high degree of interaction between the participants and the trainers. The program consists of 5 modules:
- Module 1: Orientation to Export
- Module 2: Preparing to Export
- Module 3: Incoterms
- Module 4: Methods of payment
- Module 5: Developing an Export Marketing Plan
Companies should be able to increase their competitiveness in the international market upon completion of this level.
Export Development Program (EDP) 3:
This level is geared at established exporters who are already actively engaged in particular markets and are looking to expand into new markets. This forum provides these established exporters with on-the-ground and current information including opportunities and threats and barriers to entry in a particular market. The identified markets are markets with particular potential for Western Cape's export strengths.
Export Development Program (EDP) 3: Mentorship Program
This program is open for all companies that have completed the EDP 2 training. Companies applying for the mentorship program will besubjected to an evaluation process using diagnostic and assessment tools to ascertain their export readiness. The second selection criterion is based on (but is not mutually exclusive to):
- Years in existence
- Success in local market (maybe also already in other overseas markets)
- Identified overseas markets to access
- Exportable product
- Manufacturing and supply capacity
- Financial capability
Preference will be given to companies in the following sectors:
- Agri-processing
- Energy
- Niche Engineering
- Manufacturing
- Middle and back office processing
- Creative industries.
Companies will be selected based on the outcome of the above. Mentors will be assigned to the selected company based on the company’s specific needs.
The mentorship intervention does not exceed 6 months. The cost will be shared between Wesgro, Seda and the participating company.
The outcomes of the intervention will be measured 6 months after completion of the mentorship program. The assessment will be based on improvement in the company’s turnover, profitability and job creation. These are the minimum requirements for this program.
Export Development Program (EDP) 3: PUM Program
PUM, a Dutch based program, runs a mentorship program in developing countries for SME’s addressing specific business needs. The mentorship program runs over a period of two weeks at a time. PUM has:
- Over 4,000 experts running over 2 200 projects per annum
- A network of 250 local representatives covering 80 countries throughout Africa, Latin America, Central Europe, Asia and the Middle East
- Approximately 125 voluntary staff members – retired experts
- Sector co-ordinators
- Country coordinators
- 42 permanent staff members at their Headquarters in The Hague
- 2,000 projects and/or businesses receiving consultancy annually
- Total number of executed projects in 30 years: 25 000
As part of the Export Development Program we are engaging the PUM mentorship program to assist EDP 3 exporters. The mentor will work with the exporter in developing certain business areas that needs improvement as identified by the SME. PUM provide an independent service with no commercial links. The skills transferred by the mentors are tailored to the exporter’s requirements which are enhanced by the PUM mentors extensive global experience.
Export Development Program (EDP) 3: SSAS Outward Mission
The aim of this program is to develop the emerging exporters to be able to engage international markets. One of the ways in which this is accomplished is through taking these emerging exporters into foreign markets, before they start trading internationally and in this way ensuring that they are ready for the challenges of the international market. The program helps them to overcome barriers and constraints in accessing the global market and business opportunities.
The objective of this program is to afford emerging exporters the opportunity to scan the market (as identified by Wesgro) and to identify related threats and opportunities for their business, related pricing issues and identify their competition within this market. This is done by:
- Introducing the participants to the foreign market
- Providing the participants with first-hand information about the foreign market
- Introducing potential foreign buyers to the participants
- Providing an opportunity for the participants to get foreign buyers feedback pertaining to their products
- Providing the participants with learning experiences to better equip them for their own exporting activities.
The outcome of the mission would be for the emerging exporters to:
- Be ready and confident to trade in the international market
- Have a clear understanding of the foreign market visited
- Have an understanding of what the opportunities are in the foreign market visited
- Have being introduced to foreign buyers
- Know how to pitch their product for that specific foreign market.
