Gaining access to markets beyond their immediate communities is a rare achievement for many small business owners in Limpopo but this week, 14 of the province’s entrepreneurs celebrated what they describe as a breakthrough moment across the continent at the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) 2025 in Algiers, Algeria.
They were selected through the Limpopo Economic Development Agency’s (LEDA) market access programme, which helps small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs) explore opportunities beyond provincial and national borders.
According to Amelia Ramphadi, the founder and CEO of AmiSkin, a natural skin products brand and one of the SMEs participating in the trade fair, this opportunity will help her business grow.
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“I’m very excited to be part of the trade fair because we’re not only showcasing our work to people in Algeria but also to Africa as a whole. We’re gaining exposure and building connections, and soon we’ll be exporting our products across the continent and growing as a small business,” she said.
Fashion designer Machaya Selepe, founder of Royal Wardrobe, participating in the trade fair is personal as much as it is professional.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that will have an unimaginable impact on my company, my family, and Limpopo,” Selepe said.
Operating with only a few employees, Selepe now sees her business as having the potential to grow into larger enterprises with the right support.
“With some of the potential deals we are pursuing, my company’s growth and the employment of more staff are guaranteed,” she said.
For some participants, the trade fair was not just about selling products but also about promoting Limpopo’s untapped industries. Film producer and founder of FM Productions, Fortunate Mamoepa, sees huge potential in showcasing Limpopo’s climate and biodiversity as a backdrop for filmmaking.
“We believe our film and documentary-making opportunities have huge potential because of Limpopo’s amazing climate and rich biodiversity,” Mamoepa said.
Mamoepa said he’s confident that the exposure at the trade fair will lead to partnerships that will help his company grow and showcase Limpopo’s film potential across Africa.
“I am confident we will clinch co-production deals with other African counterparts based on our nature and tourism offering alone,” he said.
Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba said the continental trade fair was about creating opportunities to build sustainable businesses and future jobs.
“We are indebted to the partnership from the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) and the Small Enterprises Development and Finance Agency (SEDFA), who made it possible for us to bring these entrepreneurs,” said Ramathuba.
She also added that their presence was more than business; it was about representing Limpopo’s innovation, talent, and resilience on a continental stage.
“We believe that with these exposures that we have given them, their enterprises would find a launch pad for future sustainability,” she added.
