Women exchange notes with South Africa

HYDERABAD: The Association of Lady Entrepreneurs of Andhra Pradesh (ALEAP) on Tuesday conducted a day-long Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI)-SADC Trade Mission in its attempt to bring together the expertise of national and international trade promotion organisations on a common platform.The programme, inaugurated by Ms Anna Gertruida Reyneke, head of international trade, JCCI, was also aimed at promoting business relationship between women entrepreneurs in the State with their counterparts in South Africa.Six women entrepreneurs from South Africa, who have businesses in different fields like textiles marketing, arts and crafts, interior designing, pharmaceuticals attended the programme and expressed interest in stepping into the Andhra Pradesh market.Mrs. Nondumiso Sybil Gazi, one of the delegates who has a pharmaceutical company back in Africa, already has a collaboration with a State-based pharma company run by Mrs Ganga Balaji Rao. Addressing the gathering, Ramadevi Kanneganti, chairman of ALEAP, said, “we have collaborated with JCCI to give international exposure to our entrepreneurs.”Similarly, with the help of Vipani, the marketing wing of the ALEAP, the women entrepreneurs are getting an opportunity to collaborate with foreign companies. Kavita, manager, ALEAP, said, “we had this kind of international collaboration for the first time and earlier, we had many exhibitions in  many other countries like Egypt and Capetown.” Women interested in doing business overseas have to be registered under the Part II of the ministry of small and medium entrepreneurship. “We had got the sanction letter from the ministry and the commissioner of AP had granted sponsorship for our trip to South Africa in July,” Ramadevi said.Ms Anna Gertruida Reyneke, in her thanks giving speech, said, “we are determined to explore business opportunities in India. These kinds of platforms and exposure will help Indian women to develop themselves and make India one of the leading nations in the world. The ALEAP was established in 1993 and is recognised as one of India’s premier institutions of women entrepreneurs.