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24 June 2010 Seminar doing business in South Africa
The speakers during the seminar at the MSM: left Lionel October (SA Embassy Brussels), Frank Rekers (4Human), Gerd Leers (Old mayor Maastricht), Marc Habets (OAVM), Hansje van der Zwaan - Plagman (Human Rights and Business) and Karen Kameraat (Yente)
South Africa in South of Limburg
On June 24th OAVM organized the seminar 'South meets South, doing business with South Africa at the Maastricht School of Management in Maastricht. 25 guests from the Limburg region from the Netherlands and Belgium visited the seminar and listened to several interesting speakers who explained what you are facing when you want to do business in South Africa.
The speakers and their topics
After a brief message of welcome from the MD of the MSM in Maastricht Klaas van Mierlo Lionel October from the South African embassy in Brussels informed the audience with an presentation of the economic situation including possibilities in South Africa. The impact of the World Cup soccer was brought under the attention. Then Marc Habets MD of OAVM explained what the plans are of OAVM in South Africa. Hansje van der Zwaan - Plagman explained the connection between Human Rights & Business what is extremely important in South Africa. Knowledge of human rights and cultural differences are essential when you want to do business in South Africa. Frank Rekers of 4Human and a big admirer of Nelson Mandela gave some examples about the leadership qualities of 'Madiba' as he was called in South Africa. Frank designed a 'Leadership Energy Course' which starts again on 14 Oktober and takes place partly in the Netherlands and South Africa on Robben Island. Karen Kameraat of stichting Yente highlighted the strong development and empowerment of business woman in South Africa. Her foundation arranges a trade mis
sion into South Africa in November 2010 for business woman in the Netherlands. Gerd Leers, who was mayor of Maastricht until 2010 expressed his gratitude to OAVM for launching this new initiative for the Limburg region. This region is up for new developments and South Africa is such a development in his point of view. South Africa could be interesting for companies in the region and the Euregio Meuse Rhine could be interesting for South African companies as well. As you can see on the picture on the right organiser Marc Habets of OAVM appreciated Gerd Leers being at the seminar.
Next step
Through the organization of this seminar and through cooperation at the TV show 'Tussen Vlaai en Braai' OAVM hopes the participants and the viewers of the TV show get interested in South Africa and want to know more about South Africa. L1 recorded at the seminar on 24 June, the results you can watch here.
During the 'Bedrijven Kontaktdagen' in the MECC in Maastricht on 12 en 13 October OAVM intends to organize a stand about doing business in South Africa. The result of the stand should be participating at an outgoing mission into South Africa in June 2010. 